RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has been rearrested outside Adiala Jail.
Details reveal that Punjab police rearrested Shah Mahmood Qureshi after he was released on bail from Adiala Jail in a cipher case.
His release followed a plea by the police to end the 15-day detention orders for the former foreign minister under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
Shah Mahmood Qureshi had been initially arrested by RA Bazaar police in connection with a General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case.
Yesterday, Qureshi was detained in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for 15 days under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
The cipher case revolves around a piece of paper that Imran Khan waved at a public rally on March 27, 2022, ahead of a vote of confidence. Imran Khan claimed the cipher was ‘evidence’ of an “international conspiracy” to topple his government, pointing fingers at the US.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was the foreign minister at the time, was indicted in the case on October 23. The case originated after Imran Khan’s then-principal secretary, Azam Khan, alleged that the former PM used a US cipher for ‘political gains’ and to avert a no-confidence motion against him.
Silent Pandemic: ADB Report Highlights Alarming Rise of Domestic Violence in Pakistan
Meanwhile, a study report published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlights that domestic violence is becoming a silent pandemic in Pakistan, presenting a significant challenge to both society and the state.
The report, titled “Gendered Impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Central and West Asia”, references a recent survey conducted in Punjab and Sindh, revealing an increase in threats of physical violence (40%) and physical assault from spouses (46%).
The study aims to illuminate the pandemic’s impact, focusing on initiatives and results from policy and public investments, particularly ADB projects in nine countries in Central and West Asia.
The report notes that gendered data on COVID-19 cases and deaths are not consistently available or updated across the region.
The report attributes the rise in violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Pakistan to factors such as economic hardships and restrictions, leading to a loss of livelihoods.
Development partners in the country stress the urgency of changing the narrative to address this concerning trend.
