Pakistan authorities on Wednesday said that the Pakistan origin Italian woman who was allegedly murdered by her neighbour in an "honour" killing case was strangled to death.&nbsp

The case made headlines in Italy over claims of honor killing. Police in the eastern city of Gujrat launched an investigation into the death of the woman after allegations that she had been murdered by relatives spread online.

An autopsy performed on her exhumed body led to the discovery that she had been brutally assaulted.

“It has now been confirmed that she was strangled to death. And according to the report, her neck was also broken,” said Irfan Sulehri, a senior police officer.

Earlier, according to the victim’s family, 26-year-old was murdered in the neighbourhood of Mangowal in the city of Gujrat in Punjab on April 18 and had died of natural causes.&nbsp

The police have taken most of the suspects into custody but they are still looking for the prime suspect, who appears to be on the run. The victim's father, brother, and uncle were taken into custody for questioning after the investigation was launched.

News of her death was reported in a local Italian newspaper, Giornale di Brescia, and members of the Pakistani community in Brescia, Italy, had held a demonstration demanding to know the truth about her death.

Police in the eastern city of Gujrat launched an investigation into the death of the woman after allegations that she had been murdered by relatives spread online

Pakistan authorities on Wednesday said that the Pakistan origin Italian woman who was allegedly murdered by her neighbour in an "honour" killing case was strangled to death. The case made headlines in Italy over claims of honor killing. Police in the eastern city of Gujrat launched an investigation into the death of the woman after allegations that she had been murdered by relatives spread online. An autopsy performed on her exhumed body led to the discovery that she had been brutally assaulted. “It has now been confirmed that she was strangled to death. And according to the report, her neck was also broken,” said Irfan Sulehri, a senior police officer. Earlier, according to the victim’s family, 26-year-old was murdered in the neighbourhood of Mangowal in the city of Gujrat in Punjab on April 18 and had died of natural causes. The police have taken most of the suspects into custody but they are still looking for the prime suspect, who appears to be on the run. The victim's father, brother, and uncle were taken into custody for questioning after the investigation was launched. News of her death was reported in a local Italian newspaper, Giornale di Brescia, and members of the Pakistani community in Brescia, Italy, had held a demonstration demanding to know the truth about her death.

Pakistan-origin Italian woman's death caused by strangulation: Pakistan police

Each portrait tells a story. A portrait, behind its contours, contains a persona that inspires, stimulates and motivates the beholders to emulate the ideals and ideologies that the former represents. The portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah hanging on the walls of the Students Union office in the Aligarh Muslim University, similarly, hides many stories behind the dust of time gathered around it that contains different message to different people. 
&nbsp; 
Muhammad Ali Jinnah is not just another figure lying in the debris of the history, but one who caused the dismemberment of India in order to create a separate nation on religious line. He gave political expression to a dangerous and dysfunctional "two-nation theory", which was long being propagated in-principle by the likes of Md Iqbal and Sir Syyid Ahmad Khan. Finally, through his unfathomable obstinacy and persistence he became successful in creating the theocratic state of Pakistan but not before programming a madness in which nearly 2 millions were killed and 14 millions were displaced permanently for no fault of their own. Those who lived behind, untouched with the ravages of death or displacement, got a permanent scar on their psyche and a pathological divide in their hearts.

While to the Hindus, Jinnah is a villain who divided India, to the Muslims he comes across as the greatest leader, the undisputed Quaid-i-azam who pulled off a valiant coup on the belligerent Hindus led by an 'obstructionist' Gandhi to create Pakistan for the ummah, an act of valiance comparable to none other than the Rashidun caliphs, who expanded the reach of Islam immediately after the Prophet's death.

But Jinnah was not like that, and at least till 1936 he wasn't a Muslim bigot. Jinnah was a free spirit caged within a Muslim body. Born an Ismaili Shia, Jinnah was as much a Muslim as Jawaharlal Nehru was a Hindu. With cigar, wine, western clothes and British mannerism he wasn't someone who fits the bill of a jihadi fighter struggling in the way of Allah for establishing an Islamic state for his followers. He never entertained the obscurantism of Islam or its fanatic traditions.

So, how suddenly Jinnah becomes fanatic? What makes him fall to the notion of partition of a country, in which he lived all through his life, on religious line? The answer lies in two factors.

The first factor that drew him to a separate Muslim state was the fear that the western democracy, as being adopted gradually in India, would be detrimental for the Muslims because of their small population. Constituting less than one third of the total population, Jinnah believed the Muslims would ever remain outnumbered by Hindus in all policy decisions.

Though the idea of a separate Islamic state within India was incubating slowly since the days of ideologues like Sir Saiyyad Ahmad Khan, this idea didn't resonate well with Jinnah, who at best looked for extracting concessions for Muslims from the Congress leaders as well as the British for a bigger pie in the governance within a united India. However, the Government of India Act, 1935, providing 'separate electorates' for Muslims and the subsequent elections of the 1937 proved disastrous for the political ambitions of Jinnah. Whereas the Congress was successful in making governments in eight provinces across India, the Jinnah-led All India Muslim League (AIML) couldn't form government anywhere including Punjab and Bengal, which were Muslim majority states. This exposed him to the realisation that the provision of 'separate electorate' was not working to the benefit of Muslims.

Thus, the developments convinced him that electoral democracy would result into the permanent subjugation of Muslims by the Hindus - a hypothesis that has since been thoroughly and comprehensively defeated in India, which has largely remained successful in ensuring rights and dignity for the minorities over its 70 years of post-Independence existence. The conclusion convinced him on the need and necessity of pitching a political demand for Pakistan.

The second factor was his close association with Muhammad Iqbal, the poet, politician and ideologue who is considered as the "spiritual father of Pakistan" in the 1930s till the latter's death. Through his series of speeches and writings, Iqbal established that Islam had a "legal concept" which was anachronistic with the principles of nationalism or democracy as neither of the two can operate without dividing the community (ummah). 
&nbsp; 
During the period of political vacuum in the IUML, mainly due to the self-imposed exile of Jinnah from India in the first half of 1930s, Iqbal theorised and successfully articulated, what was to be known later as the "Two-Nation Theory" - a political principle of religious exclusivism that holds Muslims as a distinct nation unable to co-exist with any other religious group or community, hence deserving political independence from the Hindus.

Having theorised such a blatant communalist principle, Iqbal set himself on the task of convincing Jinnah to come back to India and take up the leadership of the IUML, as he believed that the latter was the only Muslim in India who possessed the ability to lead the community and to make them join the League. With a series of intense and fruitful correspondences with Jinnah, Iqbal was successful in bringing the former back from London in 1936 to lead the IUML. Thus, appears Jinnah 2.0, thoroughly transformed and wholly steeped into the ideologies of Iqbal, whom he declared as his political mentor.

From the 1937 through the World War II, Jinnah still looked hesitant to ask for partition and wanted to have some kind of rapprochement with the Indian National Congress. However, the subsequent political developments dashed all hopes of Jinnah and he got more and more drawn to the visions of Iqbal. Finally, convinced of the need of Pakistan, Jinnah formally brought up "Pakistan Resolution" for creation of a Muslim state of Pakistan in its Lahore session of 1940 and the IUML adopted the same as its political goal henceforth.

The AMU had become the hotspot of Pakistan movement during this period as Jinnah made multiple visits to the institution all through this period. He was was given a lifetime membership of its student union in 1938.

Thus, the vagaries of electoral democracy and the machinations of Muhammad Iqbal were the two factors that completed the transformation of a secular-liberal Jinnah 1.0 to his 2.0 avatar, which saw a communal and obstinate politician spewing venom against Gandhi and Congress leaders while talking of Pakistan in an uncompromising manner. That's why the Indians, including a majority of Muslims who stayed behind rejecting his flawed theory, loathe him and find his portrait on an Indian university campus shocking.

However, from the Muslim perspective, Jinnah was a savior of Muslims from the 'oppressive' democracy that would have put them under the permanent subjugation of Hindus in an undivided India. He fought the British authorities as well as with the Hindu majority tooth and nail to carve out Pakistan. That's why he is still the hero of a section of Indian Muslims who treat him as an Islamic victor conquering over the Hindu majoritarianism. The portrait hanging in the Students Union office of the AMU is the portrait of Jinnah 2.0 which still finds space in the current Indian political environment.

Thus, Jinnah is a moral leader of those Indian Muslims who look for a dominant political space for themselves in the 21st century India. The Jinnah portrait gives them the inspiration and assures them that it's possible. The chant, 'lad ke lenge azadi' (we'll achieve independence by force) reverberating from the walls of the AMU, has its source in that portrait.

Just because the Berlin wall was there since the 1960s didn't mean it couldn't be demolished. Many such mistakes of the history have been rectified in course of time hence the argument that the portrait is there since 1938 is not the raison d'etre for its existence in the university. The portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the AMU's Students Union office is nothing but the moral elixir of the aspirational Muslim youths looking for an Islamic icon in India through the leadership vacuum of modern times.

Thus, don't expect the portrait to be taken down from AMU. No wonder, if you find it creeping up many other university walls in India in days to come.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Jinnah was a free spirit caged within a Muslim body.

Each portrait tells a story. A portrait, behind its contours, contains a persona that inspires, stimulates and motivates the beholders to emulate the ideals and ideologies that the former represents. The portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah hanging on the walls of the Students Union office in the Aligarh Muslim University, similarly, hides many stories behind the dust of time gathered around it that contains different message to different people. Muhammad Ali Jinnah is not just another figure lying in the debris of the history, but one who caused the dismemberment of India in order to create a separate nation on religious line. He gave political expression to a dangerous and dysfunctional "two-nation theory", which was long being propagated in-principle by the likes of Md Iqbal and Sir Syyid Ahmad Khan. Finally, through his unfathomable obstinacy and persistence he became successful in creating the theocratic state of Pakistan but not before programming a madness in which nearly 2 millions were killed and 14 millions were displaced permanently for no fault of their own. Those who lived behind, untouched with the ravages of death or displacement, got a permanent scar on their psyche and a pathological divide in their hearts. While to the Hindus, Jinnah is a villain who divided India, to the Muslims he comes across as the greatest leader, the undisputed Quaid-i-azam who pulled off a valiant coup on the belligerent Hindus led by an 'obstructionist' Gandhi to create Pakistan for the ummah, an act of valiance comparable to none other than the Rashidun caliphs, who expanded the reach of Islam immediately after the Prophet's death. But Jinnah was not like that, and at least till 1936 he wasn't a Muslim bigot. Jinnah was a free spirit caged within a Muslim body. Born an Ismaili Shia, Jinnah was as much a Muslim as Jawaharlal Nehru was a Hindu. With cigar, wine, western clothes and British mannerism he wasn't someone who fits the bill of a jihadi fighter struggling in the way of Allah for establishing an Islamic state for his followers. He never entertained the obscurantism of Islam or its fanatic traditions. So, how suddenly Jinnah becomes fanatic? What makes him fall to the notion of partition of a country, in which he lived all through his life, on religious line? The answer lies in two factors. The first factor that drew him to a separate Muslim state was the fear that the western democracy, as being adopted gradually in India, would be detrimental for the Muslims because of their small population. Constituting less than one third of the total population, Jinnah believed the Muslims would ever remain outnumbered by Hindus in all policy decisions. Though the idea of a separate Islamic state within India was incubating slowly since the days of ideologues like Sir Saiyyad Ahmad Khan, this idea didn't resonate well with Jinnah, who at best looked for extracting concessions for Muslims from the Congress leaders as well as the British for a bigger pie in the governance within a united India. However, the Government of India Act, 1935, providing 'separate electorates' for Muslims and the subsequent elections of the 1937 proved disastrous for the political ambitions of Jinnah. Whereas the Congress was successful in making governments in eight provinces across India, the Jinnah-led All India Muslim League (AIML) couldn't form government anywhere including Punjab and Bengal, which were Muslim majority states. This exposed him to the realisation that the provision of 'separate electorate' was not working to the benefit of Muslims. Thus, the developments convinced him that electoral democracy would result into the permanent subjugation of Muslims by the Hindus - a hypothesis that has since been thoroughly and comprehensively defeated in India, which has largely remained successful in ensuring rights and dignity for the minorities over its 70 years of post-Independence existence. The conclusion convinced him on the need and necessity of pitching a political demand for Pakistan. The second factor was his close association with Muhammad Iqbal, the poet, politician and ideologue who is considered as the "spiritual father of Pakistan" in the 1930s till the latter's death. Through his series of speeches and writings, Iqbal established that Islam had a "legal concept" which was anachronistic with the principles of nationalism or democracy as neither of the two can operate without dividing the community (ummah). During the period of political vacuum in the IUML, mainly due to the self-imposed exile of Jinnah from India in the first half of 1930s, Iqbal theorised and successfully articulated, what was to be known later as the "Two-Nation Theory" - a political principle of religious exclusivism that holds Muslims as a distinct nation unable to co-exist with any other religious group or community, hence deserving political independence from the Hindus. Having theorised such a blatant communalist principle, Iqbal set himself on the task of convincing Jinnah to come back to India and take up the leadership of the IUML, as he believed that the latter was the only Muslim in India who possessed the ability to lead the community and to make them join the League. With a series of intense and fruitful correspondences with Jinnah, Iqbal was successful in bringing the former back from London in 1936 to lead the IUML. Thus, appears Jinnah 2.0, thoroughly transformed and wholly steeped into the ideologies of Iqbal, whom he declared as his political mentor. From the 1937 through the World War II, Jinnah still looked hesitant to ask for partition and wanted to have some kind of rapprochement with the Indian National Congress. However, the subsequent political developments dashed all hopes of Jinnah and he got more and more drawn to the visions of Iqbal. Finally, convinced of the need of Pakistan, Jinnah formally brought up "Pakistan Resolution" for creation of a Muslim state of Pakistan in its Lahore session of 1940 and the IUML adopted the same as its political goal henceforth. The AMU had become the hotspot of Pakistan movement during this period as Jinnah made multiple visits to the institution all through this period. He was was given a lifetime membership of its student union in 1938. Thus, the vagaries of electoral democracy and the machinations of Muhammad Iqbal were the two factors that completed the transformation of a secular-liberal Jinnah 1.0 to his 2.0 avatar, which saw a communal and obstinate politician spewing venom against Gandhi and Congress leaders while talking of Pakistan in an uncompromising manner. That's why the Indians, including a majority of Muslims who stayed behind rejecting his flawed theory, loathe him and find his portrait on an Indian university campus shocking. However, from the Muslim perspective, Jinnah was a savior of Muslims from the 'oppressive' democracy that would have put them under the permanent subjugation of Hindus in an undivided India. He fought the British authorities as well as with the Hindu majority tooth and nail to carve out Pakistan. That's why he is still the hero of a section of Indian Muslims who treat him as an Islamic victor conquering over the Hindu majoritarianism. The portrait hanging in the Students Union office of the AMU is the portrait of Jinnah 2.0 which still finds space in the current Indian political environment. Thus, Jinnah is a moral leader of those Indian Muslims who look for a dominant political space for themselves in the 21st century India. The Jinnah portrait gives them the inspiration and assures them that it's possible. The chant, 'lad ke lenge azadi' (we'll achieve independence by force) reverberating from the walls of the AMU, has its source in that portrait. Just because the Berlin wall was there since the 1960s didn't mean it couldn't be demolished. Many such mistakes of the history have been rectified in course of time hence the argument that the portrait is there since 1938 is not the raison d'etre for its existence in the university. The portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the AMU's Students Union office is nothing but the moral elixir of the aspirational Muslim youths looking for an Islamic icon in India through the leadership vacuum of modern times. Thus, don't expect the portrait to be taken down from AMU. No wonder, if you find it creeping up many other university walls in India in days to come. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why you shouldn't expect the portrait of Jinnah to be taken down from AMU

Pakistan-based Human Rights Activist and Blogger Kapil Dev, in a tweet claimed that Shikarpur Police in Pakistan shaved off head, moustache and eyebrows of a Hindu trader Chunilal for lending money on interest to his customers.

"Shikarpur Police shaved off head, moustache and eyebrows of #Hindu trader Chunilal for lending money on interest to his customers. The shameless policeman proudly did this just to humiliate and disgrace a vulnerable Hindu minority member. Is there any rule of law?@BBhuttoZardari," the human rights activist tweeted.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Shikarpur Police shaved off head, moustache and eyebrows of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hindu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hindu</a> trader Chunilal for lending money on interest to his customers. The shameless policeman proudly did this just to humiliate and disgrace a vulnerable Hindu minority member. Is there any rule of law?<a href="https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBhuttoZardari</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z4rObBxlih">pic.twitter.com/Z4rObBxlih</a>
— Kapil Dev (@kdsindhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/kdsindhi/status/994289126626222080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Hindu population in Pakistan is declining due to discrimination and a general rise in crime against the minority community.

At the time of partition in 1947, the violent separation of Pakistan and India into two different countries took place.&nbsp; 
Hundreds of thousands of Hindus opted to migrate to India.

As per Dawn, those who chose to stay back in Pakistan, make up a tiny fraction of Pakistan's estimated 190 million citizens.&nbsp;

Hindu population in Pakistan is declining due to discrimination and a general rise in crime against the minority community

Pakistan-based Human Rights Activist and Blogger Kapil Dev, in a tweet claimed that Shikarpur Police in Pakistan shaved off head, moustache and eyebrows of a Hindu trader Chunilal for lending money on interest to his customers. "Shikarpur Police shaved off head, moustache and eyebrows of #Hindu trader Chunilal for lending money on interest to his customers. The shameless policeman proudly did this just to humiliate and disgrace a vulnerable Hindu minority member. Is there any rule of law?@BBhuttoZardari," the human rights activist tweeted. Shikarpur Police shaved off head, moustache and eyebrows of #Hindu trader Chunilal for lending money on interest to his customers. The shameless policeman proudly did this just to humiliate and disgrace a vulnerable Hindu minority member. Is there any rule of law?@BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/Z4rObBxlih — Kapil Dev (@kdsindhi) May 9, 2018 × Hindu population in Pakistan is declining due to discrimination and a general rise in crime against the minority community. At the time of partition in 1947, the violent separation of Pakistan and India into two different countries took place. Hundreds of thousands of Hindus opted to migrate to India. As per Dawn, those who chose to stay back in Pakistan, make up a tiny fraction of Pakistan's estimated 190 million citizens.

Police humiliated me, says Pakistan based Hindu man

By: Rakib Ehsan*

A recent survey looking into attitudes towards immigrants of different origins has thrown up some interesting figures.

YouGov asked 1,668 UK adults whether immigrants from various parts of the world had made a positive or negative contribution to British life.

While immigrants from India received a healthy positive figure of +25, their South Asian counterparts are in negative territory. Bangladeshis have a net figure of -3. Pakistanis fare even worse at -4. Net figures are calculated by taking away the figure for "negative contribution" from the figure for "positive contribution".

There are a range of factors that might account for these differences - some historical, some economic and some social and religious.

Migratory story

The initial flow of steady Indian migration started in the 1950s. As well as a notable number of politically disaffected Punjabi Sikhs, this flow included a stream of highly educated Gujarati migrants. Many ended up working as medical professionals in the NHS.

In the 1970s, a number of migrants of Indian origin sought refuge in the UK following their expulsion from Uganda. The stream of Indian migration from East Africa also included people fleeing state discrimination in Kenya.

The vast proportion of these migrants were well-educated and entrepreneurial. Indeed, following their expulsion, the backbone of the Ugandan economy crumbled under Idi Amin’s dictatorship. Ugandan Indians are collectively a British success story.

Many of the initial Pakistani and Bangladeshi migrants, on the other hand, originated from deprived regions such as Azad Kashmir, where the rate of Pakistani migration increased following the construction of the Mangla Dam in the 1960s, a project that left more than 250 villages submerged. Many others are from Sylhet and migrated following the damage caused by the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.

Settlers from Pakistan and Bangladesh often filled manual jobs, particularly those in steel mills and the textiles industry. Due to poor English skills, many were unable to progress in terms of employment or to interact with the wider population. This continues to be a problem within Britain’s Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, particularly among women.

Socio-economic status

Then there are differences in economic performance. According to 2010 data, Indians in the UK are far more likely to work in higher-skilled professional jobs than Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. A recent population survey found that 59% of UK women in a combined Bangladeshi-Pakistani category were economically inactive. The corresponding figure for Indian-origin women was only 32%.

British Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities have historically ranked highly when measuring average fertility rates by ethnicity in the UK. The fertility rate for British Indians is noticeably lower in comparison.

What this data collectively suggest is that due to superior occupational status, a higher proportion of two-income households and substantially lower fertility rates, British Indian households are far less likely to be dependent on welfare. Therefore perceptions regarding welfare dependency may have fed into the YouGov figures.

Social integration

The YouGov figures could also be influenced by differences in social contact. There is the possibility that a high number of the respondents simply don’t have much experience of communicating with people of Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin.

The 2010 data shows that Bangladeshis and Pakistanis living in the UK have far higher levels of residential and social segregation than Indians. They are more likely to be part of social and economic networks which are predominantly made out of people from their own ethnic group. This is partly down to being occupationally segregated in the transport and hospitality sectors.

British Indians have higher levels of “social mixing” through friends, neighbours and work colleagues. This creates greater opportunities for positive contact across ethnic groups. “Outgroupers” may be less likely to experience positive contact with British Bangladeshis and Pakistanis due to the comparatively higher levels of social, economic and residential segregation within these groups.

Religious effect

The religious composition of the ethnic groups cannot be ignored either. A substantial proportion of UK Indians are either Hindu or Sikh. Britain’s Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are nearly all Sunni Muslim. And the 2010 data shows that UK Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are more likely to identify more with their faith (when traded-off against British identification).

Perceptions of homegrown terrorism and Islamic radicalisation could also have played a part in the negative net figures for the Bangladeshi and Pakistani groups. The ethnic background of perpetrators involved in domestic terrorist activities and UK citizens who have joined Daesh “as jihadis” or “jihadi brides” may be implicated in negative group perceptions, even if these people make up a tiny proportion of the population. Major cases of child sexual exploitation in places such as Rochdale and Rotherham are unlikely to have helped.

Looking to the future

The YouGov figures suggest that economic performance, social relations and religio-cultural values can all influence perceptions on immigration.

The negative actions of a minority can certainly lead to unfair generalisations. But considering the group trends in socioeconomic status and sociocultural integration, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Bangladeshi and Pakistani immigrants are viewed more negatively than those of Indian origin. The question remains what to do about it.

The state does have a role to play in improving social and economic outcomes. But frank discussions need to be held within certain groups over socioeconomic progress and sociocultural modernisation. And their place in Britain’s liberal democracy.

*Rakib Ehsan is Doctoral Researcher in Political Science at Royal Holloway

(This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/poll-finds-more-favourable-attitudes-towards-indian-immigrants-than-pakistanis-and-bangladeshis-why-96040">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A recent survey looking into attitudes towards immigrants of different origins asked 1,668 UK adults whether immigrants had made a positive or negative contribution to British life

By: Rakib Ehsan* A recent survey looking into attitudes towards immigrants of different origins has thrown up some interesting figures. YouGov asked 1,668 UK adults whether immigrants from various parts of the world had made a positive or negative contribution to British life. While immigrants from India received a healthy positive figure of +25, their South Asian counterparts are in negative territory. Bangladeshis have a net figure of -3. Pakistanis fare even worse at -4. Net figures are calculated by taking away the figure for "negative contribution" from the figure for "positive contribution". There are a range of factors that might account for these differences - some historical, some economic and some social and religious. Migratory story The initial flow of steady Indian migration started in the 1950s. As well as a notable number of politically disaffected Punjabi Sikhs, this flow included a stream of highly educated Gujarati migrants. Many ended up working as medical professionals in the NHS. In the 1970s, a number of migrants of Indian origin sought refuge in the UK following their expulsion from Uganda. The stream of Indian migration from East Africa also included people fleeing state discrimination in Kenya. The vast proportion of these migrants were well-educated and entrepreneurial. Indeed, following their expulsion, the backbone of the Ugandan economy crumbled under Idi Amin’s dictatorship. Ugandan Indians are collectively a British success story. Many of the initial Pakistani and Bangladeshi migrants, on the other hand, originated from deprived regions such as Azad Kashmir, where the rate of Pakistani migration increased following the construction of the Mangla Dam in the 1960s, a project that left more than 250 villages submerged. Many others are from Sylhet and migrated following the damage caused by the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. Settlers from Pakistan and Bangladesh often filled manual jobs, particularly those in steel mills and the textiles industry. Due to poor English skills, many were unable to progress in terms of employment or to interact with the wider population. This continues to be a problem within Britain’s Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, particularly among women. Socio-economic status Then there are differences in economic performance. According to 2010 data, Indians in the UK are far more likely to work in higher-skilled professional jobs than Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. A recent population survey found that 59% of UK women in a combined Bangladeshi-Pakistani category were economically inactive. The corresponding figure for Indian-origin women was only 32%. British Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities have historically ranked highly when measuring average fertility rates by ethnicity in the UK. The fertility rate for British Indians is noticeably lower in comparison. What this data collectively suggest is that due to superior occupational status, a higher proportion of two-income households and substantially lower fertility rates, British Indian households are far less likely to be dependent on welfare. Therefore perceptions regarding welfare dependency may have fed into the YouGov figures. Social integration The YouGov figures could also be influenced by differences in social contact. There is the possibility that a high number of the respondents simply don’t have much experience of communicating with people of Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin. The 2010 data shows that Bangladeshis and Pakistanis living in the UK have far higher levels of residential and social segregation than Indians. They are more likely to be part of social and economic networks which are predominantly made out of people from their own ethnic group. This is partly down to being occupationally segregated in the transport and hospitality sectors. British Indians have higher levels of “social mixing” through friends, neighbours and work colleagues. This creates greater opportunities for positive contact across ethnic groups. “Outgroupers” may be less likely to experience positive contact with British Bangladeshis and Pakistanis due to the comparatively higher levels of social, economic and residential segregation within these groups. Religious effect The religious composition of the ethnic groups cannot be ignored either. A substantial proportion of UK Indians are either Hindu or Sikh. Britain’s Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are nearly all Sunni Muslim. And the 2010 data shows that UK Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are more likely to identify more with their faith (when traded-off against British identification). Perceptions of homegrown terrorism and Islamic radicalisation could also have played a part in the negative net figures for the Bangladeshi and Pakistani groups. The ethnic background of perpetrators involved in domestic terrorist activities and UK citizens who have joined Daesh “as jihadis” or “jihadi brides” may be implicated in negative group perceptions, even if these people make up a tiny proportion of the population. Major cases of child sexual exploitation in places such as Rochdale and Rotherham are unlikely to have helped. Looking to the future The YouGov figures suggest that economic performance, social relations and religio-cultural values can all influence perceptions on immigration. The negative actions of a minority can certainly lead to unfair generalisations. But considering the group trends in socioeconomic status and sociocultural integration, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Bangladeshi and Pakistani immigrants are viewed more negatively than those of Indian origin. The question remains what to do about it. The state does have a role to play in improving social and economic outcomes. But frank discussions need to be held within certain groups over socioeconomic progress and sociocultural modernisation. And their place in Britain’s liberal democracy. *Rakib Ehsan is Doctoral Researcher in Political Science at Royal Holloway (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why Britishers have favourable attitude towards Indian immigrants

A strong earthquake rattled parts of Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday.

The quake measured with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, struck around 8: 25 AM and was felt for 15 to 20 seconds.

Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

A strong earthquake rattled parts of Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday. The quake measured with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, struck around 8: 25 AM and was felt for 15 to 20 seconds. Earthquake tremors were felt in parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Kohat, along with Swat, Malakand division, Manshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Abbottabad, and Mardan.

Strong 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Pakistan's Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has set his sights on playing at least until the 2020 World Twenty20 and the 36-year-old is aware that he will have to perform consistently to achieve that goal.

The former Pakistan captain retired from test cricket at the end of 2015, three tests after earning a shock return to the side after a gap of five years.

He has, however, been a regular member of Pakistan's limited-overs side.

"The 2019 World Cup, 50-over cricket, is my last World Cup, but I want to play in the World T20 in 2020, that is my goal for Twenty20 cricket," Malik said in a statement from the Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament.

"These are the two big goals which I'm looking at – let's see how it goes. If I'm consistently performing then I want to play these two World Cups."

The&nbsp;middle-order batsman and also bowls off-spin, Malik played 35 tests for Pakistan and has represented the team in 261 one-day internationals and 95 Twenty20 matches.

He played for the Barbados Tridents in the CPL for the last five years but has now joined the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2018 edition, which will run from Aug. 8-Sept. 16.

"Guyana is more like you're playing in the sub-continent I think," said Malik, who has also played in the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash League.

"But on that particular day performance is the key of any cricketer and that's what I'm looking for.

"Obviously, if you're playing for a new team the expectations are a lot from you. When they have seen someone that did well for a long run the expectations are obviously high."

The middle-order Pakistan batsman and also bowls off-spin, Malik played 35 tests for Pakistan and has represented the team in 261 one-day internationals and 95 Twenty20 matches

Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has set his sights on playing at least until the 2020 World Twenty20 and the 36-year-old is aware that he will have to perform consistently to achieve that goal. The former Pakistan captain retired from test cricket at the end of 2015, three tests after earning a shock return to the side after a gap of five years. He has, however, been a regular member of Pakistan's limited-overs side. "The 2019 World Cup, 50-over cricket, is my last World Cup, but I want to play in the World T20 in 2020, that is my goal for Twenty20 cricket," Malik said in a statement from the Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament. "These are the two big goals which I'm looking at – let's see how it goes. If I'm consistently performing then I want to play these two World Cups." The middle-order batsman and also bowls off-spin, Malik played 35 tests for Pakistan and has represented the team in 261 one-day internationals and 95 Twenty20 matches. He played for the Barbados Tridents in the CPL for the last five years but has now joined the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2018 edition, which will run from Aug. 8-Sept. 16. "Guyana is more like you're playing in the sub-continent I think," said Malik, who has also played in the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash League. "But on that particular day performance is the key of any cricketer and that's what I'm looking for. "Obviously, if you're playing for a new team the expectations are a lot from you. When they have seen someone that did well for a long run the expectations are obviously high."

Shoaib Malik wants to play until upcoming World T20

Inzamam-ul-Haq, former captain of Pakistan Cricket Team, was one of the best batsmen of his time.&nbsp;

However, the cricketer is more remembered by his fans for his tendency to either be run out or get his partner dismissed.&nbsp;

During his career, he was involved in many comical run-outs as the former star player got run out 40 times in ODI cricket.

And now in 2018, Inzamam's nephew Imam-ul-Haq seems to have inherited some of that infamous talent of his 'Mamu Jaan'.&nbsp;

In Pakistan’s tour match against Northamptonshire, Imam was involved in a comical run-out dismissal with Azhar Ali.

Imam tapped the ball to fine leg and took off running, but was watching the ball instead of his partner Azhar Ali, who, despite his best attempts to avoid a collision ended up barging into the batsman.&nbsp;

The result was Ali being run-out and Imam left standing at the non-striker's end.

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Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq running between the wickets against Northamptonshire. Video courtesy of Northants ccc <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NORTHAMPTONSHIREvPAKISTAN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NORTHAMPTONSHIREvPAKISTAN</a> <a href="https://t.co/mBtISQChUJ">pic.twitter.com/mBtISQChUJ</a>
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The dismissal gave everyone a sense of 'Deja Vu' as they were reminded of the classic run-outs Inzamam was involved in during his cricketing days.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Pakistan eventually beat Northamptonshire by 9 wickets with Imam-ul-Haq unbeaten on 59.

The dismissal gave everyone a sense of 'deja vu'. Inzamam was run out 40 times in his ODI career

Inzamam-ul-Haq, former captain of Pakistan Cricket Team, was one of the best batsmen of his time. However, the cricketer is more remembered by his fans for his tendency to either be run out or get his partner dismissed. During his career, he was involved in many comical run-outs as the former star player got run out 40 times in ODI cricket. And now in 2018, Inzamam's nephew Imam-ul-Haq seems to have inherited some of that infamous talent of his 'Mamu Jaan'. In Pakistan’s tour match against Northamptonshire, Imam was involved in a comical run-out dismissal with Azhar Ali. Imam tapped the ball to fine leg and took off running, but was watching the ball instead of his partner Azhar Ali, who, despite his best attempts to avoid a collision ended up barging into the batsman. The result was Ali being run-out and Imam left standing at the non-striker's end. Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq running between the wickets against Northamptonshire. Video courtesy of Northants ccc #Cricket #NORTHAMPTONSHIREvPAKISTAN pic.twitter.com/mBtISQChUJ — Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) May 7, 2018 × The dismissal gave everyone a sense of 'Deja Vu' as they were reminded of the classic run-outs Inzamam was involved in during his cricketing days. Pakistan eventually beat Northamptonshire by 9 wickets with Imam-ul-Haq unbeaten on 59.

Watch: Comedy of errors as Inzamam-ul-Haq's nephew Imam gets his partner run out

By: Manish Shukla

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is planning to free several Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists lodged in jails and train them to wage jihad in Jammu and Kashmir, according to intelligence agencies. 
 
The terrorists would be released on the condition that they wage 'holy war' in Kashmir valley, sources in the intelligence agencies said. 
 
As per the report, ISI has set up a new training camp in Nayali forest area in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and as many as 135 terrorists have been handed over to terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad for arms training; some of them are Pakistani Taliban. 
 
The latest intelligence input comes shortly after reports of terror threat on Amarnath Yatra in the Kashmir valley, the home ministry had called a high-level meeting to review security arrangements for the annual pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin in the month of June. 
 
"We have foolproof security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra. Precise intel input on terror groups helped us eliminate many terrorists in the valley," CRPF director general Rajeev Bhatnagar said. 
 
According to intelligence inputs, Pakistan now trusts JeM and LeT more than Hizbul Mujaheedin. 
 
As per the report, Lashkar-e-Toiba is focussing on recruiting cadres for the terror outfit and to provide for their training. It was involved in setting up a new communication system, utilise safe infiltration routes and launched a monthly online magazine called Wyeth to attract youth. For the operational purpose, LeT has broadly divided Jammu Kashmir state into four zone.

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The terrorists would be released on the condition that they wage 'holy war' in Kashmir valley, according to intelligence inputs.

By: Manish Shukla Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is planning to free several Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists lodged in jails and train them to wage jihad in Jammu and Kashmir, according to intelligence agencies. The terrorists would be released on the condition that they wage 'holy war' in Kashmir valley, sources in the intelligence agencies said. As per the report, ISI has set up a new training camp in Nayali forest area in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and as many as 135 terrorists have been handed over to terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad for arms training; some of them are Pakistani Taliban. The latest intelligence input comes shortly after reports of terror threat on Amarnath Yatra in the Kashmir valley, the home ministry had called a high-level meeting to review security arrangements for the annual pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin in the month of June. "We have foolproof security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra. Precise intel input on terror groups helped us eliminate many terrorists in the valley," CRPF director general Rajeev Bhatnagar said. According to intelligence inputs, Pakistan now trusts JeM and LeT more than Hizbul Mujaheedin. As per the report, Lashkar-e-Toiba is focussing on recruiting cadres for the terror outfit and to provide for their training. It was involved in setting up a new communication system, utilise safe infiltration routes and launched a monthly online magazine called Wyeth to attract youth. For the operational purpose, LeT has broadly divided Jammu Kashmir state into four zone.

Pakistan plans to free Taliban terrorists for jihad in Jammu and Kashmir: Report

Activists of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) resorted to violence and clashed with each other over a venue dispute for the rallies to be held on May 12.&nbsp;

The clashes took place in parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi yesterday after PPP and PTI both announced that they will be holding rallies at the Hakeem Saeed Ground in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

Workers belonging to both parties engaged in aerial firing and pelting stones at one another late Monday evening. Police officials then took over after both parties ended up destroying properly and injuring others.&nbsp; 
About a dozen people were wounded as the two groups attacked each other. Of the inured, two, including one with a gunshot wound to his leg, were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

"They also destroyed camp offices of each other," Gulshan SP Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto said.

Two cars and several motorcycles were also set on fire by the workers while windows of other cars parked outside were shattered. Massive traffic jams were witnessed at University Road and its adjoining areas.

Both the parties have also written to the district commissioner for his permission to hold their rallies at the Hakeem Saeed Ground.

The clashes took place in parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi yesterday after PPP and PTI both announced that they will be holding rallies at the Hakeem Saeed Ground in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqba

Activists of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) resorted to violence and clashed with each other over a venue dispute for the rallies to be held on May 12. The clashes took place in parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi yesterday after PPP and PTI both announced that they will be holding rallies at the Hakeem Saeed Ground in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Workers belonging to both parties engaged in aerial firing and pelting stones at one another late Monday evening. Police officials then took over after both parties ended up destroying properly and injuring others. About a dozen people were wounded as the two groups attacked each other. Of the inured, two, including one with a gunshot wound to his leg, were rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. "They also destroyed camp offices of each other," Gulshan SP Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto said. Two cars and several motorcycles were also set on fire by the workers while windows of other cars parked outside were shattered. Massive traffic jams were witnessed at University Road and its adjoining areas. Both the parties have also written to the district commissioner for his permission to hold their rallies at the Hakeem Saeed Ground.

PPP, PTI party workers clash in Pakistan's Karachi over rally venue dispute

The primary suspect,&nbsp;Abid Hussain,&nbsp;who was responsible for the assassination bid at Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal,&nbsp;reportedly said that Iqbal was an "easy target" and "belonged to his area," reports said.&nbsp;

Abid fired a shot at Iqbal from a distance of 15 yards as he entered his vehicle to leave the rally venue tehsil Kanjrur. He was later arrested and is now on a 10-day physical remand. He also confessed that he had purchased a gun from a person for Rs 15,000.&nbsp;A 30-bore pistol was recovered from the arrested Abid.

The police have also arrested an accomplice, and have registered the FIR of the incident at Shah Ghareeb Police Station, reports said.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal underwent two successful consecutive surgeries on Monday after being shot in an apparent assassination bid by a religious fanatic during an election rally in Punjab province, as another suspect has been taken into custody.

Iqbal, 59, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, was hit by the bullet on his right shoulder in the attack on Sunday.

An official at the Services Hospital here said that the surgery was successful and Iqbal is recovering well.

"Iqbal is out of danger and recovering fast," he added.

Hussain belongs to the religious outfit - Tehreek-e-Labbaik Yarasoolallah Pakistan (TLYP), according to preliminary investigation.

"The suspect who opened fire on the interior minister belongs to the TLYP. We know the motive of this attack but I want to tell that this is a very dangerous game being played against the PML-N," Information Minister Marrium Aurengzeb said. Talking to reporters she said "this politics of hatred" should be stopped now.

A senior police officer said that the suspect told investigators that he opened fire on the minister to take revenge on the ruling PML-N for trying to delete the clause related to the Khatm-e-Nabuwat (the finality of Prophet Muhammad) from the Constitution.&nbsp;

The suspect, during questioning, told police that he received ‘orders’ to kill the interior minister in a dream and wrote down his thoughts in a diary over the past three or four months.

Iqbal, 59, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, was hit by the bullet on his right shoulder in the attack on Sunday

The primary suspect, Abid Hussain, who was responsible for the assassination bid at Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, reportedly said that Iqbal was an "easy target" and "belonged to his area," reports said. Abid fired a shot at Iqbal from a distance of 15 yards as he entered his vehicle to leave the rally venue tehsil Kanjrur. He was later arrested and is now on a 10-day physical remand. He also confessed that he had purchased a gun from a person for Rs 15,000. A 30-bore pistol was recovered from the arrested Abid. The police have also arrested an accomplice, and have registered the FIR of the incident at Shah Ghareeb Police Station, reports said. Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal underwent two successful consecutive surgeries on Monday after being shot in an apparent assassination bid by a religious fanatic during an election rally in Punjab province, as another suspect has been taken into custody. Iqbal, 59, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, was hit by the bullet on his right shoulder in the attack on Sunday. An official at the Services Hospital here said that the surgery was successful and Iqbal is recovering well. "Iqbal is out of danger and recovering fast," he added. Hussain belongs to the religious outfit - Tehreek-e-Labbaik Yarasoolallah Pakistan (TLYP), according to preliminary investigation. "The suspect who opened fire on the interior minister belongs to the TLYP. We know the motive of this attack but I want to tell that this is a very dangerous game being played against the PML-N," Information Minister Marrium Aurengzeb said. Talking to reporters she said "this politics of hatred" should be stopped now. A senior police officer said that the suspect told investigators that he opened fire on the minister to take revenge on the ruling PML-N for trying to delete the clause related to the Khatm-e-Nabuwat (the finality of Prophet Muhammad) from the Constitution. The suspect, during questioning, told police that he received ‘orders’ to kill the interior minister in a dream and wrote down his thoughts in a diary over the past three or four months.

Pak Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was an 'easy target', says, primary suspect after assassination attempt

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-interior-minister-ahsan-iqbal-was-an-easy-target-says-primary-suspect-after-assassination-attempt-135300">Pakistan's interior minister</a> is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees its mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot on Sunday as he was leaving a constituency meeting surrounded by supporters in Punjab province.

He is in hospital and out of danger but the attack has shaken the political establishment ahead of a general election expected in July.

The suspected gunman, arrested at the scene, is Abid Hussain, 21, a youth leader of the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik party, police said in an interrogation report seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

The party, known as Labaik, has made the emotive issue of blasphemy its rallying cry in a country where for years hardline Islamists have vied for power with civilian politicians and a coup-prone military.

Hussain told police he was inspired by the teachings of founders of the Labaik and joined a party blockade of the capital, Islamabad, in November aimed at forcing out a government minister they accused of blasphemy over a change to an oath-taking law.

According to police, Hussain said he had dreamt Ali Hajveri, an 11th century Muslim preacher revered in South Asia, "ordered me to kill Ahsan Iqbal".

Labaik denied that Hussain was a member of the party.

"We have nothing to do with him," spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters.

But a founding member of Labaik, Pir Afzal Qadri, said Iqbal and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party had invited trouble by committing blasphemy when they changed an election law in a way some said weakened an oath declaring Mohammad the last true prophet.

"They have done so much wrong," Qadri said in a video message. "It is their fault, they themselves are responsible for this. These people are inviting attacks."

'Send them to Hell'

Iqbal's shooting has stoked fears of a repeat of the pre-election Islamist violence that has blighted polls before, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

It has also compounded unease about blasphemy.

Even accusations of blasphemy can lead to mob killings and those convicted of blasphemy face the death penalty, though no death sentences for it have been carried out.

Many clerics say even to suggest change to the blasphemy law is blasphemy.

In November, Labaik blocked a main road into the capital for several days over the small change to the election law. The government explained the change as a clerical error and reversed it. The minister responsible resigned.

Hussain joined the protests determined to "send any blasphemer to hell", police said in their report.

Seven people were killed and 200 wounded when police tried to clear the blockade.

Qadri said Iqbal, as interior minister, was responsible for the attack on him as he had ordered the police action.

"It is regrettable that the whole world is making hue and cry just because he got one bullet, and not a single arrest has so far been made in the martyrdom of the seven people," Qadri said.

Police said Hussain had cited the example of Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard of the governor of Punjab who gunned down the man he was meant to protect in 2011 over the governor's call for reform of the blasphemy law.

Qadri, who was convicted of murder, sentenced to death and executed in 2016, has become a martyr for hardliners, and Labaik emerged out of a movement that lionised him.

Hussain bought a pistol several months ago and later got hold of bullets, police said in the report.

Two days before the shooting, he got a WhatsApp message from a resident of the town where Iqbal was shot, telling him the minister was due.

Hours before the meeting, Hussain washed, put on smart clothes and went early to wait, police said.

"When Ahsan Iqbal came down from the stage and was encircled with party workers, Abid stood up and fired."

&nbsp;

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding Pakistan's interior minister is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees it mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report

The gunman accused of shooting and wounding Pakistan's interior minister is a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees its mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report. Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was shot on Sunday as he was leaving a constituency meeting surrounded by supporters in Punjab province. He is in hospital and out of danger but the attack has shaken the political establishment ahead of a general election expected in July. The suspected gunman, arrested at the scene, is Abid Hussain, 21, a youth leader of the Islamist Tehreek-e-Labaik party, police said in an interrogation report seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The party, known as Labaik, has made the emotive issue of blasphemy its rallying cry in a country where for years hardline Islamists have vied for power with civilian politicians and a coup-prone military. Hussain told police he was inspired by the teachings of founders of the Labaik and joined a party blockade of the capital, Islamabad, in November aimed at forcing out a government minister they accused of blasphemy over a change to an oath-taking law. According to police, Hussain said he had dreamt Ali Hajveri, an 11th century Muslim preacher revered in South Asia, "ordered me to kill Ahsan Iqbal". Labaik denied that Hussain was a member of the party. "We have nothing to do with him," spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told Reuters. But a founding member of Labaik, Pir Afzal Qadri, said Iqbal and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party had invited trouble by committing blasphemy when they changed an election law in a way some said weakened an oath declaring Mohammad the last true prophet. "They have done so much wrong," Qadri said in a video message. "It is their fault, they themselves are responsible for this. These people are inviting attacks." 'Send them to Hell' Iqbal's shooting has stoked fears of a repeat of the pre-election Islamist violence that has blighted polls before, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. It has also compounded unease about blasphemy. Even accusations of blasphemy can lead to mob killings and those convicted of blasphemy face the death penalty, though no death sentences for it have been carried out. Many clerics say even to suggest change to the blasphemy law is blasphemy. In November, Labaik blocked a main road into the capital for several days over the small change to the election law. The government explained the change as a clerical error and reversed it. The minister responsible resigned. Hussain joined the protests determined to "send any blasphemer to hell", police said in their report. Seven people were killed and 200 wounded when police tried to clear the blockade. Qadri said Iqbal, as interior minister, was responsible for the attack on him as he had ordered the police action. "It is regrettable that the whole world is making hue and cry just because he got one bullet, and not a single arrest has so far been made in the martyrdom of the seven people," Qadri said. Police said Hussain had cited the example of Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard of the governor of Punjab who gunned down the man he was meant to protect in 2011 over the governor's call for reform of the blasphemy law. Qadri, who was convicted of murder, sentenced to death and executed in 2016, has become a martyr for hardliners, and Labaik emerged out of a movement that lionised him. Hussain bought a pistol several months ago and later got hold of bullets, police said in the report. Two days before the shooting, he got a WhatsApp message from a resident of the town where Iqbal was shot, telling him the minister was due. Hours before the meeting, Hussain washed, put on smart clothes and went early to wait, police said. "When Ahsan Iqbal came down from the stage and was encircled with party workers, Abid stood up and fired."

Islamist group youth leader accused of shooting Pakistani minister: Police

Former Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's recent comments in Pakistan are expected to spark off yet another round of heated discussion.

While addressing an event in Lahore, Aiyar — he was recently suspended from the Congress — said the first proponent of the two-nation theory was VD Savarkar, the ideological guru of India's Hindu right. He further said that the current situation in India is an "abhorrent one".

"Present situation in India is an aberration, In 1923 a man called VD Savarkar invented a word which does not exist in any religious text, 'Hindutva'. So first proponent of the two nation theory was the ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India," Aiyar said.&nbsp;

He also took a dig at the people protesting against the portrait of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah in&nbsp;Aligarh Muslim University.&nbsp;

"I referred to Jinnah as the Quaid e Azam and the hysterical Indian TV anchors are demanding to know how an Indian can go to Pakistan and say this. I know many Pakistanis who called MK Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi, does that make them unpatriotic Pakistanis?" Aiyar said.&nbsp;

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Aiyar said&nbsp;that about 70 per cent of Indians did not vote for Modi in the 2014 elections.

"70 per cent of Indians didn't vote for Mr Modi in last elections but lost because they were completely factionated among themselves, it is my hope that a great number of this 70 per cent will come together to put an end to the aberration we've been suffering in our country," Aiyar said.&nbsp;

The veteran leader is no stranger to controversy. Aiyar recently said he receives more hatred in India than love in Pakistan.

Aiyar was suspended from the Congress party last year before the Gujarat elections.&nbsp;

He had referred to PM Modi as "neech".&nbsp;

He later said he had meant "low thinking" but Modi took Aiyar's comments to the Gujarat electorate, saying Aiyar had called him "low caste".&nbsp;

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Present situation in India is an aberration, In 1923 a man called VD Savarkar invented a word which doesn't exist in any religious text, 'Hindutva'. So first proponent of the two nation theory was ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India: MA Aiyar in Lahore <a href="https://t.co/2C0ovEPRBI">pic.twitter.com/2C0ovEPRBI</a>
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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The former Congress leader also referred to the current situation in India as an 'abhorrent one'

Former Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's recent comments in Pakistan are expected to spark off yet another round of heated discussion. While addressing an event in Lahore, Aiyar — he was recently suspended from the Congress — said the first proponent of the two-nation theory was VD Savarkar, the ideological guru of India's Hindu right. He further said that the current situation in India is an "abhorrent one". "Present situation in India is an aberration, In 1923 a man called VD Savarkar invented a word which does not exist in any religious text, 'Hindutva'. So first proponent of the two nation theory was the ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India," Aiyar said. He also took a dig at the people protesting against the portrait of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Aligarh Muslim University. "I referred to Jinnah as the Quaid e Azam and the hysterical Indian TV anchors are demanding to know how an Indian can go to Pakistan and say this. I know many Pakistanis who called MK Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi, does that make them unpatriotic Pakistanis?" Aiyar said. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Aiyar said that about 70 per cent of Indians did not vote for Modi in the 2014 elections. "70 per cent of Indians didn't vote for Mr Modi in last elections but lost because they were completely factionated among themselves, it is my hope that a great number of this 70 per cent will come together to put an end to the aberration we've been suffering in our country," Aiyar said. The veteran leader is no stranger to controversy. Aiyar recently said he receives more hatred in India than love in Pakistan. Aiyar was suspended from the Congress party last year before the Gujarat elections. He had referred to PM Modi as "neech". He later said he had meant "low thinking" but Modi took Aiyar's comments to the Gujarat electorate, saying Aiyar had called him "low caste". Present situation in India is an aberration, In 1923 a man called VD Savarkar invented a word which doesn't exist in any religious text, 'Hindutva'. So first proponent of the two nation theory was ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India: MA Aiyar in Lahore pic.twitter.com/2C0ovEPRBI — ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2018 ×

First proponent of two-nation theory was Savarkar: Mani Shankar Aiyar in Pakistan

Looks like there is going to be a lot of representation from South Asia at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Sonam Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai are regular faces at the Cannes red carpet every year but this year Pakistani actress Mahira Khan will also join a bevvy of stars at the French Riviera.&nbsp; 
 
The actor, who was named the first Pakistani brand ambassador for make-up giant L`Oreal last year, took to Instagram to share the news, Geo News reported.

Mahira shared a photograph of Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger at the 1977 Cannes and captioned it: "Cannes 2018, Let`s do this!" The actress though later deleted the image.&nbsp;

Pakistani fashion designer Hassaan Khan congratulated Mahira and wrote, "Couldn't be more proud to have a sister who continues to open doors for future generations of Pakistan women. To make them believe they can achieve anything they want if they truly believe and love what they do. 'When they go low, we go high' @TheMahiraKhan #Cannes2018 #girlpower"

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Couldn't be more proud to have a sister who continues to open doors for future generations of Pakistan women. To make them believe they can achieve anything they want if they truly believe and love what they do. 'When they go low, we go high' <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMahiraKhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheMahiraKhan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cannes2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cannes2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/girlpower?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#girlpower</a>
— HK (@HassaanKahn) <a href="https://twitter.com/HassaanKahn/status/992390277317963776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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She also took to Twitter and wrote: "My name is Cannes and I`m not a..."

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My name is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cannes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cannes</a> and I’m not a ) ❣️ <a href="https://t.co/LQSWMClcR6">https://t.co/LQSWMClcR6</a>
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMahiraKhan/status/992380211282022406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Other celebrities attending the Cannes this year to represent L`Oreal Paris are Julianne Moore, Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria as well as Bollywood stars <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-cannes-2018-this-is-when-aishwarya-deepika-sonam-kangana-will-be-walking-the-red-carpet--133955">Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai and Sonam Kapoor.</a>

Indian actress <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-kangana-ranaut-to-debut-at-cannes-red-carpet-132755">Kangana Ranaut is also reported to be gearing up for her debut at Cannes </a>this year.

The 71st annual Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to be held from May 8 to May 19.

The actress shared the news on her social media pages.

Looks like there is going to be a lot of representation from South Asia at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Sonam Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai are regular faces at the Cannes red carpet every year but this year Pakistani actress Mahira Khan will also join a bevvy of stars at the French Riviera. The actor, who was named the first Pakistani brand ambassador for make-up giant L`Oreal last year, took to Instagram to share the news, Geo News reported. Mahira shared a photograph of Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger at the 1977 Cannes and captioned it: "Cannes 2018, Let`s do this!" The actress though later deleted the image. Pakistani fashion designer Hassaan Khan congratulated Mahira and wrote, "Couldn't be more proud to have a sister who continues to open doors for future generations of Pakistan women. To make them believe they can achieve anything they want if they truly believe and love what they do. 'When they go low, we go high' @TheMahiraKhan #Cannes2018 #girlpower" Couldn't be more proud to have a sister who continues to open doors for future generations of Pakistan women. To make them believe they can achieve anything they want if they truly believe and love what they do. 'When they go low, we go high' @TheMahiraKhan #Cannes2018 #girlpower — HK (@HassaanKahn) May 4, 2018 × She also took to Twitter and wrote: "My name is Cannes and I`m not a..." My name is #Cannes and I’m not a ) ❣️ https://t.co/LQSWMClcR6 — Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) May 4, 2018 × Other celebrities attending the Cannes this year to represent L`Oreal Paris are Julianne Moore, Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria as well as Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai and Sonam Kapoor. Indian actress Kangana Ranaut is also reported to be gearing up for her debut at Cannes this year. The 71st annual Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to be held from May 8 to May 19.

Mahira Khan to make her debut at Cannes this year

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday that he plans to challenge the disqualification verdict for him, while addressing a rally in &nbspMansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.&nbsp

"This law, this decision [to disqualify] would have to be taken to the assembly and changed. For that, I will need your vote," The Dawn reported Nawaz, as saying.

Sharif and former general secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Khan Tareen were disqualified last month by Pakistan's Supreme Court from contesting elections for the rest of their lives.&nbsp

A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar, gave the unanimous verdict on several identical petitions pertaining to the duration of disqualification of a politician under Article 62(1)(f) of the Pakistan Constitution, reported Samaa TV.

The Article 62(1)(f) reads, "A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and righteous, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law."

On Sunday, the PTI chief, who seeks to become Pakistan's next prime minister, launched his party's campaign for the July elections

Meanwhile, condemning the disqualification of former Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the country which does not respect its politicians can never progress.

Abbasi while addressing a ceremony in Pakistan's Pasrur said that politicians must get the same amount of respect as judges, generals, and government officials.

Sharif and former general secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Khan Tareen were disqualified last month by Pakistan's Supreme Court from contesting elections for the rest of their lives

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday that he plans to challenge the disqualification verdict for him, while addressing a rally in &nbspMansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "This law, this decision [to disqualify] would have to be taken to the assembly and changed. For that, I will need your vote," The Dawn reported Nawaz, as saying. Sharif and former general secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Khan Tareen were disqualified last month by Pakistan's Supreme Court from contesting elections for the rest of their lives. A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar, gave the unanimous verdict on several identical petitions pertaining to the duration of disqualification of a politician under Article 62(1)(f) of the Pakistan Constitution, reported Samaa TV. The Article 62(1)(f) reads, "A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and righteous, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law." On Sunday, the PTI chief, who seeks to become Pakistan's next prime minister, launched his party's campaign for the July elections Meanwhile, condemning the disqualification of former Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the country which does not respect its politicians can never progress. Abbasi while addressing a ceremony in Pakistan's Pasrur said that politicians must get the same amount of respect as judges, generals, and government officials.

Will challenge disqualification verdict: Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa suggested ways of achieving peace and prosperity in Pakistan through military cooperations with India, as per reports by UK-based think-tank Royal Unites Services Institute (RUSI).&nbsp;

As per the report, General Bajwa had recently invited Sanjay Vishwasrao, the Indian military attache, and his team to the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad in March.&nbsp;

After two weeks, General Bajwa reportedly said that he wanted peace and dialogue with India. Bajwa while addressing a passing-out parade of cadets said, "That only through comprehensive and meaningful dialogue a solution could be found for the disputes between the two countries", as quoted by European think-tank European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS).

This came following Indian army Chief General Bipin Rawat's statement of April 15 saying that peace is the only solution to improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and it could be ensured through a dialogue between India and Pakistan.

He said that Islamabad “remains committed to such a dialogue, but only on the basis of sovereign equality, dignity and honour.”

The peaceful resolution of India-Pakistan disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir, can be found through comprehensive and meaningful dialogue, Bajwa had said earlier.

Moreover, the report further mentioned that that senior Pakistani officer Lieutenant General Aamir Riaz headed the first ever high-level contact group with India as Director-General Military Operations.

The report added that another top officer, Major General Ahmed Hayat, the Director General of analysis wing of the Inter-Services-Intelligence (ISI), authored the so-called "India Plan" in 2013, which tried to ascertain how and when Pakistan should approach India, suggesting that Pakistan military would approach India after Islamabad strengthened it defence diplomacy without pressure or threats from Washington DC.

"It is a no-brainer that one cannot live in an environment of perpetual enmity with a neighbour six times your size, but the indicators have to be right," he said.

The report further said that with a sustained approach by the Pakistan military to India, it could only be a matter of time before New Delhi agrees to at least talk to Islamabad for improving relations and pressing for peace and stability.&nbsp;

(With ANI inputs)

As per the report, General Bajwa had recently invited Sanjay Vishwasrao, the Indian military attache, and his team to the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad in March

Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa suggested ways of achieving peace and prosperity in Pakistan through military cooperations with India, as per reports by UK-based think-tank Royal Unites Services Institute (RUSI). As per the report, General Bajwa had recently invited Sanjay Vishwasrao, the Indian military attache, and his team to the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad in March. After two weeks, General Bajwa reportedly said that he wanted peace and dialogue with India. Bajwa while addressing a passing-out parade of cadets said, "That only through comprehensive and meaningful dialogue a solution could be found for the disputes between the two countries", as quoted by European think-tank European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS). This came following Indian army Chief General Bipin Rawat's statement of April 15 saying that peace is the only solution to improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and it could be ensured through a dialogue between India and Pakistan. He said that Islamabad “remains committed to such a dialogue, but only on the basis of sovereign equality, dignity and honour.” The peaceful resolution of India-Pakistan disputes, including the core issue of Kashmir, can be found through comprehensive and meaningful dialogue, Bajwa had said earlier. Moreover, the report further mentioned that that senior Pakistani officer Lieutenant General Aamir Riaz headed the first ever high-level contact group with India as Director-General Military Operations. The report added that another top officer, Major General Ahmed Hayat, the Director General of analysis wing of the Inter-Services-Intelligence (ISI), authored the so-called "India Plan" in 2013, which tried to ascertain how and when Pakistan should approach India, suggesting that Pakistan military would approach India after Islamabad strengthened it defence diplomacy without pressure or threats from Washington DC. "It is a no-brainer that one cannot live in an environment of perpetual enmity with a neighbour six times your size, but the indicators have to be right," he said. The report further said that with a sustained approach by the Pakistan military to India, it could only be a matter of time before New Delhi agrees to at least talk to Islamabad for improving relations and pressing for peace and stability. (With ANI inputs)

Pakistan can achieve peace and prosperity through military talks with India: General Bajwa

Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was on Sunday shot at and in a suspected assassination bid after he addressed a rally in Punjab province, news agency PTI reported quoting police.

Iqbal, 59, suffered a bullet injury on his right shoulder following the incident.&nbsp;

He was attending a corner meeting in Narowal's Kanjrur Tehsil when the incident occurred, the police was quoted as saying by Dawn News.

According to reports, he&nbsp;was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.&nbsp;

Family sources confirmed that the interior minister is being shifted to Lahore.

The suspect has reportedly been taken into custody, according to police.

District Police Officer Imran Kishwar said that the attacker used a 30-bore pistol to fire at Iqbal from a distance of around 18 metres.

"One of the shooters has been arrested and (is) being interrogated by the police," Punjab government said in a Twitter message.

Confirming the incident, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tallal Chaudhry said Iqbal was out of danger. The arrested suspect is 20-22 years old, he added.

Corner meetings become common as elections come close with politicians interacting with supporters and common people.&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs)

Iqbal, 59, sustained a bullet wound on his right shoulder.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal was on Sunday shot at and in a suspected assassination bid after he addressed a rally in Punjab province, news agency PTI reported quoting police. Iqbal, 59, suffered a bullet injury on his right shoulder following the incident. He was attending a corner meeting in Narowal's Kanjrur Tehsil when the incident occurred, the police was quoted as saying by Dawn News. According to reports, he was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital. Family sources confirmed that the interior minister is being shifted to Lahore. The suspect has reportedly been taken into custody, according to police. District Police Officer Imran Kishwar said that the attacker used a 30-bore pistol to fire at Iqbal from a distance of around 18 metres. "One of the shooters has been arrested and (is) being interrogated by the police," Punjab government said in a Twitter message. Confirming the incident, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tallal Chaudhry said Iqbal was out of danger. The arrested suspect is 20-22 years old, he added. Corner meetings become common as elections come close with politicians interacting with supporters and common people. (With PTI inputs)

Pakistan interior minister shot at in suspected assassination bid: Police

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday confirmed the death sentence of 11 hardcore terrorists, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Three other convicts were also awarded imprisonment.

The terrorists had been a part of heinous offences related to terrorism, including attacks on law enforcement agencies and armed forces of Pakistan, Malakand University, and killing of innocent civilians including Imran Khan Mohmind, a member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, the ISPR said.

Out of them, three terrorists identified as Burhanuddin, Shaheer Khan and Gul Faraz Khan were convicted of attacking a funeral ceremony in Zargrano Killi, Sher Ghar, Mardan, which resulted in the death of 30 civilians including Imran Khan Mohmind, member of KP Assembly, and injuries to 100 others These convicts admitted their offences before the magistrate and the trial court. All convicts were awarded death sentences, reports said.

The killed 60 included, "36 civilians, 24 Armed Forces/Frontier Constabulary/ Police Officials and injuring 142 others," according to a statement issued by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

All 14 convicts, who were members of banned organisations, admitted their offences were awarded death sentences.

The trials are closed to the public but defendants are allowed to hire lawyers, according to the reports.

Arms and explosives were also recovered from their possession. 
&nbsp;

All 14 convicts, who were members of banned organisations, admitted their offences were awarded death sentences

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday confirmed the death sentence of 11 hardcore terrorists, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Three other convicts were also awarded imprisonment. The terrorists had been a part of heinous offences related to terrorism, including attacks on law enforcement agencies and armed forces of Pakistan, Malakand University, and killing of innocent civilians including Imran Khan Mohmind, a member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, the ISPR said. Out of them, three terrorists identified as Burhanuddin, Shaheer Khan and Gul Faraz Khan were convicted of attacking a funeral ceremony in Zargrano Killi, Sher Ghar, Mardan, which resulted in the death of 30 civilians including Imran Khan Mohmind, member of KP Assembly, and injuries to 100 others These convicts admitted their offences before the magistrate and the trial court. All convicts were awarded death sentences, reports said. The killed 60 included, "36 civilians, 24 Armed Forces/Frontier Constabulary/ Police Officials and injuring 142 others," according to a statement issued by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). All 14 convicts, who were members of banned organisations, admitted their offences were awarded death sentences. The trials are closed to the public but defendants are allowed to hire lawyers, according to the reports. Arms and explosives were also recovered from their possession.

Pakistan Army Chief confirms death sentences for 11 'hardcore terrorists'

Five women came forward in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, accusing five men — belonging to the same family — of marrying them after luring them under a false pretence of taking them to the United Kingdom, Pak media reported.

According to The Nation, victims spilt the beans on marriage scams being run in Pakistan's Mirpur where accused British nationals woo girls into marriage promising a great life abroad.

The victims' families were also duped by these British-Pakistani nationals, as revealed at a recent press conference held at the Kashmir Press Club in Mirpur.

According to those addressing the press conference, an entire gang of British-Pakistani nationals led by Mumtaz, also known as 'Taja Pehlwan', targetted young girls, especially in Mirpur. Mumtaz himself developed intimate relationships with some of these girls, assuring them good life abroad if they married him.

At least 20 girls were reportedly targeted by this group. The men used to marry them and then shoot intimate videos of their wedding nights. Later, these girls were threatened by their respective spouses with the release of these videos online.

Some of these Pakistani men even refused to take their wives abroad and would have several wives at a time and if any of them sought divorce, they would be charged with false cases of theft. &nbsp;

This way, Mumtaz managed to marry seven girls, Anzar married five and Muhammad married three. Two of Mumtaz's family members were also involved in this marriage scam.

The girls, after a long period of torture and sexual abuse, finally came out in open and narrated their ordeal at the press conference.

The accused are currently absconding. Victims also revealed that Mumtaz is heading a drug-peddling gang with the support of his nephews Muhammad Ali and Anzar Ali.

The girls said they were forced to participate in illegal drug operations too and urged parents to be careful about such human trafficking attempts.

(With inputs from ANI)

Scores of young Pakistani girls have revealed their horrific tale as to how they were lured into marrying British-Pakistani nationals, who later blackmailed them by shooting videos of their first wedding night.

Five women came forward in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, accusing five men — belonging to the same family — of marrying them after luring them under a false pretence of taking them to the United Kingdom, Pak media reported. According to The Nation, victims spilt the beans on marriage scams being run in Pakistan's Mirpur where accused British nationals woo girls into marriage promising a great life abroad. The victims' families were also duped by these British-Pakistani nationals, as revealed at a recent press conference held at the Kashmir Press Club in Mirpur. According to those addressing the press conference, an entire gang of British-Pakistani nationals led by Mumtaz, also known as 'Taja Pehlwan', targetted young girls, especially in Mirpur. Mumtaz himself developed intimate relationships with some of these girls, assuring them good life abroad if they married him. At least 20 girls were reportedly targeted by this group. The men used to marry them and then shoot intimate videos of their wedding nights. Later, these girls were threatened by their respective spouses with the release of these videos online. Some of these Pakistani men even refused to take their wives abroad and would have several wives at a time and if any of them sought divorce, they would be charged with false cases of theft. This way, Mumtaz managed to marry seven girls, Anzar married five and Muhammad married three. Two of Mumtaz's family members were also involved in this marriage scam. The girls, after a long period of torture and sexual abuse, finally came out in open and narrated their ordeal at the press conference. The accused are currently absconding. Victims also revealed that Mumtaz is heading a drug-peddling gang with the support of his nephews Muhammad Ali and Anzar Ali. The girls said they were forced to participate in illegal drug operations too and urged parents to be careful about such human trafficking attempts. (With inputs from ANI)

Pakistan: Husbands shot nude videos,  Kashmiri brides allege 'marriage racket'

Scores of young Pakistani girls have revealed their horrific tale as to how they were lured into marrying British-Pakistani nationals, who later blackmailed them by shooting videos of their first wedding night.

According to The Nation, victims spilt the beans about such marriage scams being run in areas like Pakistan's Mirpur where accused British nationals woo girls into considering marriage to them on promises of having a great life abroad.

The victims' families were also duped by these fraudsters, as revealed at a recent press conference held at the Kashmir Press Club in Mirpur.

According to those addressing the press conference, an entire gang of British-Pakistani nationals led by Mumtaz also known as 'Taja Pehlwan' targetted young girls, especially in Mirpur. Mumtaz himself developed intimate relationships with some of these girls, assuring them of a good life abroad if they married him.

More than 15 girls were reportedly targeted by this group. The men used to marry them and then shoot intimate videos of their wedding nights. Later, these girls were threatened by their respective spouses with release of these videos online.

Some of these Pakistani men even refused to take their wives abroad and would have several wives at any given point of time and, if any of them sought divorce, they would be charged with false cases of theft.

This way, Mumtaz managed to marry seven girls, Anzar five and Muhammad three. Two of Mumtaz's family members were also involved in this marriage-scam.

The girls after long periods of torture and sexual abuse were finally able to narrate their ordeal at the press conference.

The accused are currently absconding. Victims also revealed that Mumtaz is heading a drug-peddling gang with the support of his nephews Muhammad Ali and Anzar Ali.

The girls said they were forced to participate in illegal drug operations too and asked parents to be vigilant about such human trafficking attempts.&nbsp

Victims spilt the beans about such marriage scams being run in areas like Pakistan's Mirpur where accused British nationals woo girls into considering marriage to them on promises of having a great life abroad.

Scores of young Pakistani girls have revealed their horrific tale as to how they were lured into marrying British-Pakistani nationals, who later blackmailed them by shooting videos of their first wedding night. According to The Nation, victims spilt the beans about such marriage scams being run in areas like Pakistan's Mirpur where accused British nationals woo girls into considering marriage to them on promises of having a great life abroad. The victims' families were also duped by these fraudsters, as revealed at a recent press conference held at the Kashmir Press Club in Mirpur. According to those addressing the press conference, an entire gang of British-Pakistani nationals led by Mumtaz also known as 'Taja Pehlwan' targetted young girls, especially in Mirpur. Mumtaz himself developed intimate relationships with some of these girls, assuring them of a good life abroad if they married him. More than 15 girls were reportedly targeted by this group. The men used to marry them and then shoot intimate videos of their wedding nights. Later, these girls were threatened by their respective spouses with release of these videos online. Some of these Pakistani men even refused to take their wives abroad and would have several wives at any given point of time and, if any of them sought divorce, they would be charged with false cases of theft. This way, Mumtaz managed to marry seven girls, Anzar five and Muhammad three. Two of Mumtaz's family members were also involved in this marriage-scam. The girls after long periods of torture and sexual abuse were finally able to narrate their ordeal at the press conference. The accused are currently absconding. Victims also revealed that Mumtaz is heading a drug-peddling gang with the support of his nephews Muhammad Ali and Anzar Ali. The girls said they were forced to participate in illegal drug operations too and asked parents to be vigilant about such human trafficking attempts.

Marriage racket run by UK-based Pakistanis busted

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said the upcoming general elections would be conducted by "aliens", triggering a sharp reaction from the Election Commission which advised him to stay away from making "irresponsible statements", according to a media report.

The remarks indicate that the government is not expecting the upcoming elections to be transparent. The term 'aliens' has probably been coined for the first time in place of 'angels' and 'invisible forces' used in the past, Pak News reported.

Abbasi's words about "aliens holding election" echoed the remarks made by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif two days ago: "Our contest is not with Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan but with the aliens".

"Elections will be held by aliens, but even then we [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] will participate in it," the prime minister said in an informal chat with journalists during a reception hosted by Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for members of the lower house.

His comments drew a sharp reaction from the Election Commission.

ECP spokesman Altaf Khan said that the commission was fully prepared to hold the elections in line with its mandate under Article 218 of the Constitution. Under the Constitution and the Elections Act 2017, the ECP was fully independent in discharge of its legal and constitutional duties, he added.

Khan said people occupying important office should desist from making such "irresponsible statements", adding that such statements were merely based on assumptions and rumours and amounted to ridiculing the Constitution, the report said.

The remarks indicate that the government is not expecting the upcoming elections to be transparent. The term 'aliens' has probably been coined for the first time in place of 'angels' and 'invisible forces' used in the past, Pak News reported

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said the upcoming general elections would be conducted by "aliens", triggering a sharp reaction from the Election Commission which advised him to stay away from making "irresponsible statements", according to a media report. The remarks indicate that the government is not expecting the upcoming elections to be transparent. The term 'aliens' has probably been coined for the first time in place of 'angels' and 'invisible forces' used in the past, Pak News reported. Abbasi's words about "aliens holding election" echoed the remarks made by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif two days ago: "Our contest is not with Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan but with the aliens". "Elections will be held by aliens, but even then we [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] will participate in it," the prime minister said in an informal chat with journalists during a reception hosted by Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for members of the lower house. His comments drew a sharp reaction from the Election Commission. ECP spokesman Altaf Khan said that the commission was fully prepared to hold the elections in line with its mandate under Article 218 of the Constitution. Under the Constitution and the Elections Act 2017, the ECP was fully independent in discharge of its legal and constitutional duties, he added. Khan said people occupying important office should desist from making such "irresponsible statements", adding that such statements were merely based on assumptions and rumours and amounted to ridiculing the Constitution, the report said.

Pakistan prime minister says polls will be conducted by aliens

A group of Sikh hardliners held a protest outside the United Nations office in Geneva to demand the release of Sikh militants arrested in India.

The protest was held at the behest of Pakistan and was planned by the Sikh Federation (UK), an organization that acts as a sympathizer of a separatist movement in India.

These Sikhs who migrated to UK and other parts of Europe decades ago, have a history of being involved in some or the other terrorist activity in India.

The protesters put up banners near the Broken Chair to show their support to terrorists, including Harminder Singh Mintoo, the chief of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), who recently died of heart attack in the Nabha Jail in Punjab.

As per the police files, Mintoo had the backing of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, which had been providing him with logistics to carry out terror activities in Punjab.

He had over ten terrorism-related cases in Punjab and other places against his name.

Sikh protesters in Geneva also demanded the release of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh activist, who was arrested last year for his alleged connection with a spate of targeted killings of Hindu leaders, including Jagdish Gangneja in 2016, Ravinder Gosain in October 2017 and pastor Sultan Masih in July 2017.

Police are of the view that Johal is behind these murders and was also providing funds and arranging arms for the Khalistan Liberation Force.

The posters outside the UN also include the name of Jagtar Singh Tara, the mastermind behind the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, who is now in police custody.

Two other accused -- Gurpreet Singh Gurdaspur and Gurdev Singh Jajja - have been deported from Thailand on various charges in the recent past.

Pakistan is making an all-out effort to revive the Khalistan Movement in Punjab by providing logistic and financial support to separatists settled in UK, Canada, the United States and Europe.

These Sikhs who migrated to UK and other parts of Europe decades ago, have a history of being involved in some or the other terrorist activity in India

A group of Sikh hardliners held a protest outside the United Nations office in Geneva to demand the release of Sikh militants arrested in India. The protest was held at the behest of Pakistan and was planned by the Sikh Federation (UK), an organization that acts as a sympathizer of a separatist movement in India. These Sikhs who migrated to UK and other parts of Europe decades ago, have a history of being involved in some or the other terrorist activity in India. The protesters put up banners near the Broken Chair to show their support to terrorists, including Harminder Singh Mintoo, the chief of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), who recently died of heart attack in the Nabha Jail in Punjab. As per the police files, Mintoo had the backing of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, which had been providing him with logistics to carry out terror activities in Punjab. He had over ten terrorism-related cases in Punjab and other places against his name. Sikh protesters in Geneva also demanded the release of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh activist, who was arrested last year for his alleged connection with a spate of targeted killings of Hindu leaders, including Jagdish Gangneja in 2016, Ravinder Gosain in October 2017 and pastor Sultan Masih in July 2017. Police are of the view that Johal is behind these murders and was also providing funds and arranging arms for the Khalistan Liberation Force. The posters outside the UN also include the name of Jagtar Singh Tara, the mastermind behind the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, who is now in police custody. Two other accused -- Gurpreet Singh Gurdaspur and Gurdev Singh Jajja - have been deported from Thailand on various charges in the recent past. Pakistan is making an all-out effort to revive the Khalistan Movement in Punjab by providing logistic and financial support to separatists settled in UK, Canada, the United States and Europe.

Pakistan-backed Khalistani activists hold anti-India protest outside UN

Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed has directed its cadres to step up and intensify its ' Jihad ' in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a gathering at its Markaz known as Beteha Masjid in Karachi city, JeM commander Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar claimed responsibility for the April 26 grenade attack in the Tral township of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rauf said in his speech, "During ongoing `Daura Tafseer', news of JeM cadres fighting at battlefronts (in J&K) was pouring in. On April 25 JeM cadres were engaged in fighting against the enemy and were killed the day after ( April 26). Their funeral processions were being carried out and meanwhile, another team of JeM launched attack to take avenge of killings of cadres on the previous day".

Such statements by JeM from Pakistan have exposed Islamabad's malicious designs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rauf motivated cadres and told them not to forget the real motive for and behind `Jihad'. He said, "At the battlefront, there is no dearth of `Mujahideen', who have been waiting in queues to enter into J&K to kill the enemy.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed has been banned in Pakistan since 2002, but it continues to train terrorists in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and provides them weapons to create troubles in Jammu and Kashmir.

Having maintained close relations with the Taliban and al Qaeda, it has carried out several attacks primarily in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rauf has asked its cadres to mentally and physically ready to join cadres at battlefield. "The war of jihad' is entering into an extremely dangerous phase, where enemies would be trying to eliminate Mujahideen from well inside their own locations. Time is likely to come when mujahideen and others will have to take shelter in forests and plan strategy of survival".

From January to April this year, 55 terrorists have been killed by the security forces in the Kashmir valley. A majority of these terrorists were from Pakistan who crossed the border to create disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir.

On several occasion, India has accused Pakistan for sheltering terrorists and providing them open space to wage `jihad in the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp

Addressing a gathering at its Markaz known as Beteha Masjid in Karachi city, JeM commander Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar claimed responsibility for the April 26 grenade attack in the Tral township of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed has directed its cadres to step up and intensify its ' Jihad ' in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a gathering at its Markaz known as Beteha Masjid in Karachi city, JeM commander Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar claimed responsibility for the April 26 grenade attack in the Tral township of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. Rauf said in his speech, "During ongoing `Daura Tafseer', news of JeM cadres fighting at battlefronts (in J&K) was pouring in. On April 25 JeM cadres were engaged in fighting against the enemy and were killed the day after ( April 26). Their funeral processions were being carried out and meanwhile, another team of JeM launched attack to take avenge of killings of cadres on the previous day". Such statements by JeM from Pakistan have exposed Islamabad's malicious designs in Jammu and Kashmir. Rauf motivated cadres and told them not to forget the real motive for and behind `Jihad'. He said, "At the battlefront, there is no dearth of `Mujahideen', who have been waiting in queues to enter into J&K to kill the enemy. The Jaish-e-Mohammed has been banned in Pakistan since 2002, but it continues to train terrorists in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and provides them weapons to create troubles in Jammu and Kashmir. Having maintained close relations with the Taliban and al Qaeda, it has carried out several attacks primarily in Jammu and Kashmir. Rauf has asked its cadres to mentally and physically ready to join cadres at battlefield. "The war of jihad' is entering into an extremely dangerous phase, where enemies would be trying to eliminate Mujahideen from well inside their own locations. Time is likely to come when mujahideen and others will have to take shelter in forests and plan strategy of survival". From January to April this year, 55 terrorists have been killed by the security forces in the Kashmir valley. A majority of these terrorists were from Pakistan who crossed the border to create disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir. On several occasion, India has accused Pakistan for sheltering terrorists and providing them open space to wage `jihad in the Kashmir Valley.

JeM directs its cadres to strengthen 'jihad' in Kashmir

A coal mine collapsed on Saturday in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, killing at least six people and injuring as many others.

The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion in the Marwar area near Quetta, an official said.

The bodies of the miners killed in the incident have been recovered but there are still miners trapped under the rubble, said Deputy Commissioner Quetta Farrukh Atique said.

"The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion and we are trying to rescue the trapped workers," he said.

The official said six miners who were injured in the collapse had been pulled out from the rubble and sent to a hospital for treatment.

The miners killed belonged to the same village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Shangla district, rescue officials said.

According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation (PCMLF), about 100 to 200 labourers die on average in coal mine accidents every year.

Last month, at least 11 miners died in mines' collapse in Darra Adam Khel and Jhelum.&nbsp;

The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion in the Marwar area near Quetta, an official said.

A coal mine collapsed on Saturday in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, killing at least six people and injuring as many others. The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion in the Marwar area near Quetta, an official said. The bodies of the miners killed in the incident have been recovered but there are still miners trapped under the rubble, said Deputy Commissioner Quetta Farrukh Atique said. "The collapse apparently took place because of a gas explosion and we are trying to rescue the trapped workers," he said. The official said six miners who were injured in the collapse had been pulled out from the rubble and sent to a hospital for treatment. The miners killed belonged to the same village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Shangla district, rescue officials said. According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labour Federation (PCMLF), about 100 to 200 labourers die on average in coal mine accidents every year. Last month, at least 11 miners died in mines' collapse in Darra Adam Khel and Jhelum.

Coal mine collapse kills 6 people in Pakistan

BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday said Congress and Pakistan have amazing telepathy.

In a tweet, Shah said, "Congress and Pakistan have amazing telepathy. Yesterday Pakistan Government remembered Tipu Sultan, whose Jayanti Congress marks with fanfare and today Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar admires Jinnah. Be it Gujarat or Karnataka polls, I fail to understand why Congress involves Pakistan!"

Pakistan on Friday remembered 18th-century ruler Tipu Sultan on his 218th death anniversary.

"Revisiting an important & influential historical figure, Tiger of Mysore - Tipu Sultan on his death anniversary. Right from his early years, he was trained in the art of warfare & had a fascination for learning," tweeted the Pakistani Government.

Though the Pakistan government tweeted about the Mysore ruler on his death anniversary, it has also come at a time when Karnataka is set to witness elections in a week.

Popularly known as Tiger of Mysore, he has become a controversial figure in India, especially since 2015, when the BJP and the Congress engaged in a war of words over the birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu on November 10.

BJP considers the historical figure a `Muslim tyrant` and describes him as `anti-Hindu`, `anti-Karnataka` and `mass murderer`, while the Congress consider him as the first freedom fighter who fought against the British.

Pakistan`s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah is also in the news in India.

In Aligarh, some groups have protested against the portrait of Pakistan`s founder at the office of Aligarh Muslim University student union`s office.

The matter hit the headlines after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)`s Aligarh MP Satish Gautam questioned the portrait`s presence in the AMU student union office.

On Thursday, 28 students and 13 cops were injured in a clash which broke out between AMU students and the police.&nbsp

Pakistan on Friday remembered 18th-century ruler Tipu Sultan on his 218th death anniversary.

BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday said Congress and Pakistan have amazing telepathy. In a tweet, Shah said, "Congress and Pakistan have amazing telepathy. Yesterday Pakistan Government remembered Tipu Sultan, whose Jayanti Congress marks with fanfare and today Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar admires Jinnah. Be it Gujarat or Karnataka polls, I fail to understand why Congress involves Pakistan!" Pakistan on Friday remembered 18th-century ruler Tipu Sultan on his 218th death anniversary. "Revisiting an important & influential historical figure, Tiger of Mysore - Tipu Sultan on his death anniversary. Right from his early years, he was trained in the art of warfare & had a fascination for learning," tweeted the Pakistani Government. Though the Pakistan government tweeted about the Mysore ruler on his death anniversary, it has also come at a time when Karnataka is set to witness elections in a week. Popularly known as Tiger of Mysore, he has become a controversial figure in India, especially since 2015, when the BJP and the Congress engaged in a war of words over the birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu on November 10. BJP considers the historical figure a `Muslim tyrant` and describes him as `anti-Hindu`, `anti-Karnataka` and `mass murderer`, while the Congress consider him as the first freedom fighter who fought against the British. Pakistan`s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah is also in the news in India. In Aligarh, some groups have protested against the portrait of Pakistan`s founder at the office of Aligarh Muslim University student union`s office. The matter hit the headlines after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)`s Aligarh MP Satish Gautam questioned the portrait`s presence in the AMU student union office. On Thursday, 28 students and 13 cops were injured in a clash which broke out between AMU students and the police.

Congress and Pakistan have amazing telepathy: Amit Shah

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