Soon after the BJP-led NDA came to power for the third time, Delhi MP Vinay Kumar Saxena Prosecution of writer-activist Arundhati Roy Roy filed a UAPA case against Sheikh Shaukat Hussain, a former professor from Kashmir, for a speech he made at an event 14 years ago. The basis of the case appears to be that Roy alluded to the separation of Kashmir from India and said that Kashmir was “not an integral part of India.”
Following his arrest, News International (June 17) states, “Despite the fact that Indian voters did not give him or his party, the BJP, a simple majority, this is a reminder that Modi 3.0 may not be very different from his two previous governments.”
“This is the first time since independence that a Muslim MP has not been sworn in as a minister after an election,” the editorial noted, adding: “So far, it appears that PM Modi has not learnt any lessons and will continue to fight India’s Muslim citizens and Indian dissent, as Arundhati Roy has done. Modi 3.0 will likely be yet another disaster for India and its critical minority voices.”
Regarding China and Pakistan’s comments on the Kashmir issue
At the same time, there was an exchange of words over the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and China.Rejecting “unfair references to Jammu and Kashmir”“Any move that seeks to legitimize Islamabad’s occupation of our territory is unacceptable,” it said.
The Express Tribune (June 21) said, “Wandering through the bush, [Kashmir] “Whether it is an internal issue for India or a non-controversial issue, it is tantamount to an act that flies in the face of logic, custom and international law. It is time for India to act and react in line with its progressive economy and growing image as a regional power.”
Eid in Gaza
This year, Eid al-Adha falls on June 16 in some parts of the world. While many are fortunate to celebrate with their families and communities, others, such as those in the Gaza Strip, continue to face atrocities. Pakistani media has reflected on the meaning of the festival and lamented the situation of those suffering in Palestine. The UN resolution offered a ray of hope, but Israel did not back down.
Daily Times (June 17) states, “This is a time to reach out to the whole neighborhood, to share blessings, and to reaffirm ties of kinship and fellowship…Hopefully, we will persevere and be able to include our less fortunate brothers and sisters in our celebrations.”
The Nation (June 17) “I am speaking out specifically as an act of solidarity for our Palestinian brothers and sisters. As the Islamic world commemorates the tradition of the greatest sacrifice in history, Ibrahim (AS), Palestinian Muslims are remembered in prayer.”
Another mob lynching incident
On the evening of June 20, Mohammed Suleiman, a resident of Sialkot city in Punjab, was detained by police for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran. Outrage over the incident reportedly prompted an announcement from a local mosque to “storm the police station.”dawnWhile he was in custody, a mob set fire to the station, burning him alive. The mob lynching was met with strong condemnation from the media, who reported that “this is not the first incident of mob violence in the country” (News International, June 22).
dawn The June 22 report states that “such horrific acts have become commonplace in Pakistan and such incidents occur with frightening frequency,” and examines the circumstances that may be behind the “increasing number of incidents, particularly in Karachi,” stating that “alleged blasphemy allegations are a more complex phenomenon, where illiteracy, extremism and state weakness create explosive conditions.”
News International (June 22) calls on communities to “uphold the principles of justice, protect vulnerable communities, and foster a climate of tolerance and respect for due process.” It recognizes the role of the state, stating that “it would be mere anarchy for people to enforce their own laws and act as judge, jury, and executioner…The state must act as the final arbiter of charges of any kind.”
Two Cases of Animal Abuse
Two recent cases of animal cruelty have shocked the country. The first incident occurred in Sanghar district of Sindh, where a field owner chopped off a camel’s legs after the animal strayed into his field. In the second incident, which took place in a village near Rawalpindi, a donkey’s ears were cut off, allegedly due to a land dispute between two men. This shocking case of animal cruelty has been heavily condemned by the media.
Daily Times (June 16th) expressed the horror by saying, “The callousness of this act has evoked outrage, and the screams (captured in a video that went viral on social media) have forced humanity to look deep inwards and consider whether we deserve to be celebrated as a superior race. It is a harsh reminder of how far human cruelty can fall.”
dawn (June 20) listed several ways to prevent such cruelty in the future, stating in an editorial that “the first step in providing a safer environment for animals in the country is to punish those who harm them…Secondly, society needs to be sensitized to the fact that animals also have a right to live, and that they have the right to live free from harassment and violence.”
inquiry
