Aysha Tahir

Recently in Kerala district of India, a pregnant elephant died after eating a pineapple filled with firecracker, leading to a national outrage all over the India, The wild animal was nearly 15 years old (Peterson, 2020).

Just like the human rights, Animal rights also do exist. Animal Rights are all about the beliefs that animals deserve to live their lives freely without being under any human influence, use and exploitation.

Animals are being exploited by human beings in many ways like experimentation, hunting and in circuses etc. The main reason is that the human beings consider that animals are not capable enough to understand anything, that’s why they shouldn’t be given any significance like the way human beings are given.

Every individual considers himself important in his own eyes due to his/her interest being different from others. There are some pet loving people existing in this world who give their pets more importance as compared to any other human beings but it doesn’t means that they have a right to attack and assault anyone.

The chief executive of any country might be the most precious person for his own people but it doesn’t meant to have any rights for murdering people and chopping their heads off their bodies.

Similarly, if any human considers himself to be more important than domestic animals that doesn’t means that he got an approval of abusing animals. Some people utilize the religious card to justify their unreasonable holds on basic rights of animals. The fact is that religion is a personal matter for every person so we should avoid unreasonable imposition of religious beliefs on other people.

A misconception must be eliminated that animal right activists want wild animals, which are dangerous for human life, must be equally treated in a way the humans are. And also, differences between animal rights and animal welfare must be eliminated. (Lin, 2018)    

Mohan Krishnan, a forestry officer, during an interview was very apologetic. He said that instead of getting her mouth and tongue injured due to explosion, she must have been worried more about her children than her hunger.

Chief Minister of Kerala confirmed during an interview that investigation was carried out and we have got one individual arrested.

Famous Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar in an interview was very sorrowful. He called the death of the elephant “heart breaking, inhumane and unacceptable”. (Peterson, 2020)

The unique concept of animal rights began during scientific revolution of the Europe. It gained popularity during 1980s and 1990s and got accepted. Now Animal laws are taught in majority of American schools. It was argued by philosopher Rogen Scruton that animals don’t even have a capability to have any social contracts and to make moral choices, so that they can’t be declared as a beneficiary of the rights. Only human beings have a responsibility on their shoulders that’s why only human beings must have rights. Analogous argument is that using animals as resources until any unnecessary suffering is not wrong. Usually, animal rights are considered as a threat to the human beings. It was said by Wesley J Smith that human beings are in debt of animals respect and kindness but the obligations to the humanity are of greater concern. If animals are given rights then it’s more likely that dignity of human beings will be ignored and eliminated. It’s an issue but we need to go along it. There’s very much to learn about the animals and to give value to our relationship with these creatures. Therefore we should stop exploiting the animals for entertainment or getting any profit. We need to understand which problem needs to be resurrected. (Tranquilheart, 2019)

Just like human beings, animals also deserve to live freely without any problem; they also have feelings and emotions to do whatever suits them. Just because human beings fall in the category highest of all creatures doesn’t grants them any right treat the animals in a wicked manner. Animals aren’t able to express and protect themselves in a proper way so it’s the duty of the human beings to play a role of protector of these beings. In Malawi, animal rights are strictly followed. Both the court and police can exercise their powers without any hesitation to act upon the violators. If any person violated the protection of Animals Act (1970), such person will be heavily charged or imprisoned. (Lilongwe Society, 2017)

Therefore we must learn not to harm the animals’ especially domestic animals. Also we must know proper difference between welfare and rights. We must bring the animals as resources for the purpose of welfare uses.

Beaconhouse National University represents its special event MODEL UNITED NATIONS with the collaboration of the students after BESTIVAL which supposed to be happens every year for the sake of the enjoyment and amusement of the students. This has been started in 2016 and now this year it is the fourth edition of the BNU MUN.  The conferences through which the debaters discusses the issues facing the globe, participants work with other nations to solve the world most pressing problems and talk about them. Later on, they awarded by the prestigious guests. In this event, many food brands sponsor themselves and put up different stalls with scrumptious and delicious food which makes the event even more worthy. Before the event, there is a PRE-HYPE in which different activities like dancing, singing and games held to make students excited and aware who are freshies.

There are two main social events of the MUN, one is Qawwali night and the other is Concert. Online registration system for the outsiders and students from different universities and colleges who can come along with their friends to have fun with the fullest. Last weekend, I attend the concert and it was so amazing and went really good with very famous singer “Shamoon Ismail” and the DJ. People were hooting, shouting and making videos and photos. The arrangement was mesmerizing and everything was so well organized by the whole team members. Different duties assigned to every member according to the respective tasks.

“Aurat March” is a buzz word these days. In our society, there is a vast majority that is very apprehended against Aurat March.

This year 3^rd Aurat March was celebrated on 8^th March in Pakistan. Peaceful protestors in Islamabad were attacked by shoes and stones by the members of Jamat-e Islami.

Parallel to Aurat March, another march was going on in Islamabad which was being held by Jamat-e Islami. This march was claimed to counter the original Aurat march, deeming the former one as a diversion from Islam and Shariah.

The attack on peaceful protestors is not only condemnable but also very shocking, given the levels of rising extremism and fundamentalism in country. Women are threatened for raising their voices and those who partake in Aurat March are demonized due to the negative portrayal of Aurat march on media.

A few hand-picked slogans are circulated on internet, presented in a certain light to reduce the entire movement into sheer mockery against women.

The Women March held by Jamat-e Islami got less media coverage as compared to the former. However, the images circulated on social media where applauded by more conservative and right-wing faction.

In the wake of heated episode of Khalil ur Rehamn vs. Marvi Sirmad, the support for women rights and patriarchy was pretty much divided.

The unification of entire female section of society still seems to be a far-fetched idea in Pakistan since many women still choose to idealize the traditional norms and hierarchy of gender. This is very evident from the recent incident of attack on peaceful protestors in Islamabad.

The attempt to “Islamize” Aurat march through a counter women march raised many questions and concerns among intellectual and left-wingers. Does Aurat march helps to promote women rights? This still remains a question.

As the nation is practising a lockdown to inhibit the expansion of corona virus, The Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) took jobs from 13 employees without informing or sending notice, commending monetary limitation.

A former employee, Raza Gillani, one of those 13 employees, bashed out in his tweets at the NGO and declared that this was done to acquire and extract more bonus as much as possible from epidemic disease until the Corona virus situation diffuses.

Moreover, he also asked that where all the funds provided by the government for one project of the organisation are sent whereas remaining employees were carrying out other projects in isolation.

He posted new updates that HR department had guaranteed that proper attention will be given to notice periods and extra salary will be payed to employees.

For past 6 months, employees of museum are short of their salaries from Punjab government and are still striving also for enduring awards as well. It would be difficult for the organization to function independently without funding and support from public and private donations.

The terminated employee also stated that 2-time Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, who runs this NGO, makes movies mostly portraying endangered portions of the society but endangered workers who need to support their families in critical situations were renounced.

Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) announced the distribution of salaries along with extra pay after 4 weeks’ notice in line with their respective agreements.

 London: President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif is active on twitter.

He is ready to coordinate with the government regarding corona virus COVID-19 disease. All his activities are dedicated to COVID-19. He decided to start an online all parties’ conference (APC) to discuss the issue and how to tackle it. He announced on 21 March that he would return back to fulfil his duties.

22 March: His return was in correspondence with the condemnation of Federal and Punjab government being so indecisive whether or not to impose the lock down as it would lead to the destruction of economy.

The Prime Minister wants everyone to practice social distance and return back to work even after refusal from the doctors to show up. He told that lockdown was still not an option as we haven’t created conditions favorable to lockdown.

Following the footsteps of Sindh Government, Punjab Government announced partial lockdown and the arrival of military in the province. The thunderous is the claim that leader of the opposition returned only to gain the favor of invisible powerful forces.

It is claimed by analysts that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz were locking horns with establishment leading up to general elections 2018.

Party members have silenced their “change in direction of power” statement due to poor governance exhibited by PTI. A senior PML-N member of national assembly, Khuram Dastagir told that PML-N by itself designed the safety costumes after importing the material abroad.

Nowadays the latest around the globe is about corona virus COVID-19. Every nation is dealing or tackling with corona virus COVID-19 disease with their own approaches. Nation like China has successfully defeated corona virus and now is sending its team of doctors and distributing safety kits, surgical masks and other necessary equipment to deal with it. Some nations like US, Italy and Pakistan etc. are struggling with it and some are displaying and implementing very good strategies. Ice land is one of them. One of the latest techniques Iceland has performed excellent job of disclosing a wide-ranging COVID-19 trial master plan over its residents. However, it’s just a small country, their proposition is giving captivating perception into the COVID-19 and the current widespread.

Iceland’s health officials, along with its exclusive bio-pharmaceutic firm Decode Genetics, have managed 12,615 tests, considering for nearly 3.5 percent of total population.

Iceland is offering free screening also including those who don’t have any such symptoms.  This has identified 802 confirmed cases of corona virus out of which 253 were obtained by foreign travelers.

Testing results can be viewed on health ministry COVID-19 live data page. Testing results are just groundwork results so that we can’t just consider them as divine. Every nation has its own uniqueness in its social and cultural framework and approaches and it’s not necessary that outburst of each country would be similar to those of Iceland.  The data suggested around that ½ of the people don’t have any such of symptoms (and display mild cold-like symptoms) and minimum percentage of the residents have diminished the virus. Analysts can now understand the phenomena or the mechanism of modification of the corona virus, they discovered 40 mutations of the virus, the number of alterations is a little bit larger than other approximations

The tiny population of Iceland enables it to implement the examining techniques very easily. World Health Organization is advising that all nations must initiate a large scale testing even if someone doesn’t feels or have such symptoms of corona virus. The epidemic can only be effectively combat if we have necessary all the required data. Only a non-blindfolded can extinguish the fire easily. Director General of World Health Organization (WHO) has forced for tests continuously.

There is much to learn from the performance of Iceland’s government measures on this epidemic issue. In my opinion, Iceland can be a beacon of light for all nations struggling with the disease.

When corona virus appeared in Wuhan, China, it was much alarming situation. Many people from different countries were in China at that time including Pakistani students studying in China. Other countries were bringing back their visitors but Pakistani government was reluctant to bring back the students as it was against the suggestion of World Health Organization (WHO) and the fact that China has enough equipment to counter the corona virus. Since the arrival of visitors from taftan border, corona virus stepped its toes in Pakistan

With two more fatalities in Rahim Yar Khan and Peshawar, the death count rose to 13 on Saturday due to coronavirus. There are now 1504 COVID-19 cases confirmed after people tested positive from all over four provinces. The province wise division of total number of cases is as follows: Total confirmed cases: 1504; Sindh: 469; Punjab: 557; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 188; Balochistan: 138; Islamabad Capital territory: 39; Gilgit-Baltistan: 111; Azad Jammu Kashmir: 2. Total deaths from corona virus 13; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 4; Sindh: 1; Balochistan: 1; Gilgit-Baltistan: 1 and Punjab: 6.

According to official sources, 12,000 suspected patients are under observation in the country. Infected persons also include doctors and nurses. Recently, Usama Riaz, a doctor from Gilgit-Baltistan died in fight against coronavirus. Punjab government summoned Pak Army to take control of duties to assist the government. Sindh government announced complete lockdown using the autonomy of eighteenth amendment in constitution. It exerted pressure to maintain the social distance in order for health protection. Use of transportation has been minimized except for urgent situation. Only few people can travel in vehicles. Jamiat ul Azhar has issued a fatwa of offering all prayers at home for health safety.

Recently media talk was arranged in PM house in which Prime Minister Imran Khan told that we will not go for lockdown (unless all necessary conditions are created) as it would affect the economy and labor persons. It was discovered in New York Times that Prime Minister had some differences with military regarding lockdown issue and was sidelined as military is in coordination with provincial governments to enforce a lockdown, they formed a network of military checkpoints in bigger cities and sent police officers to violently disseminate heavy gathering. Today Prime Minister announced the distribution the grocery packages for needy persons and opening of highways.

Punjab Government on suggestion by Corona Experts Advisory Group (CEAG) on Saturday directed all doctors and nurses managing corona patients to perform their duties only 6-hourly shifts. They would be granted two weeks off after one week of duty. The government had given Rs 18 billion immediate tax relief for industry, Rs 10 billion for social protection, Rs 11.5 billion to Health Department and Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Rs 100 billion to public work projects in Annual Development Programme, one extra salary for health department employees, Shuhada package and hiring 10,000 people on immediate basis.

This was all about measures taken by the government of Pakistan so far. The government is striving against corona virus and working in close coordination with China. Doctors are also giving their best shot. The residents of Pakistan are still in hope that corona virus will be completely eliminated some day.