The writer is director of Bolo Bhi, an advocacy forum for digital rights.
THE recent news of backchannel dialogue between the governments of Pakistan and India came as optimistic news for advocates of a peaceful South Asia. However, a critical angle missing from the conversation is that of the people of the region. Despite all propaganda attempts to turn citizens against each other based on nationality using suspension of visas and travel, banning TV channels and artists, and threats of military aggression, a large number of people in both countries have remained connected through the internet.
This was all the more conspicuous when #PakistanStandsWithIndia and #IndiaNeedsOxygen became top trending hashtags on Twitter in both Pakistan and India upon the tragic surge of Covid-19 cases across the border and the resultant shortage of oxygen there. Thousands of Pakistanis out of humanitarian concern started calling on the government to give India medical help. Subsequently, two offer
Daily Times
April 20, 2021
A joint resolution regarding ongoing unrest in the country after countrywide protest by banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) against Prophet’s (PBUH) insult by a French magazine, could not be tabled in the National Assembly (NA) on Monday as ruckus erupted in the house by the opposition members, due to which the Speaker had to adjourn the proceeding till Thursday.
The lower house met on Monday but could not meet any logical solution regarding worsening law and order situation in the country owing to countrywide protest by banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, demanding expulsion of French ambassador. In the previous Session of the house, the Speaker asked the government to take a joint resolution in the house in consultation with all opposition parties on aforementioned matter, so that a collective message could be released as to show the world that the Pakistan can’t tolerate any kind of insult to its religion and holy personalities of the religion.
Govt calls NA session on short notice after opposition s nod - Pakistan dawn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dawn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Last month when the session was convened, the opposition had lodged a strong protest. APP/File
ISLAMABAD: Struggling to fulfil a constitutional requirement of keeping the National Assembly in session for a minimum of 130 days in a parliamentary year, the government on Thursday convened a new session of the lower house of parliament on Friday (today) on a notice of less than 24 hours, amid an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases all over the country, particularly in the federal capital.
President Dr Arif Alvi summoned the session to meet at the Parliament House at 10.30am after the Senate Secretariat, located in the same building, issued two different notifications stating that the offices would remain closed for three days (Friday to Sunday) due to a rise in Covid-19 cases and to disinfect the precincts.
• Economic Coordination Committee summary was signed by Imran
• No normalisation of ties until Delhi reviews Kashmir policy, says FM
• PML-N leader says cabinet has shown ‘no trust’ in PM
ISLAMABAD: A day after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) allowed import of sugar, cotton and cotton yarn from India, the federal cabinet on Thursday deferred the decision citing reservations expressed by foreign and interior ministries that there should be no trade with India until it restored the semi-autonomous status of occupied Kashmir.
Interestingly, the summary approved by the ECC regarding trade with India on Wednesday was duly signed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.