Pakistan Army, along with its agencies and Jamshoro police, has abducted JSFM leader Shoban Lasari and 15 other Sindhi nationalist workers after their rally commemorating the 29th death anniversary of Sindhi nationalist leader GM Syed in Sunn city, demanding the end of forced conversion and release of Priya Kumari.

After the unnotified arrest, JSFM workers, largely comprising of women, blocked the National Highway expressing extreme distress and demanding immediate release of their fellow participants.

Notably, the rally, held at GM Syed’s grave, saw JSFM leaders and activists advocating an end to the forced conversion of Sindhi Hindu girls and denouncing the enforced disappearances and genocide of Sindhi and Baloch people. Participants voiced concerns over ongoing issues affecting their community, emphasizing the importance of preserving religious freedom and protecting ethnic minorities in Pak-occupied Sindh. Additionally, protestors demanded the release of Priya Kumari, a Hindu girl abducted nearly 3 years ago.

Hindu girls are under the constant threat of abduction, rape, coerced marriages and forced marriage in Pakistan. Instead of solving the issue, Pakistan chooses to be ignorant of it. The role of local police comes under suspicion as the local SSP Amjad Shah in a Television program claimed that she is alive and can be conceivably recovered.

Nonetheless, the JSFM rally and subsequent arrest of its leaders is a grim reminder of the continuously deteriorating law and order condition and freedom of expression in Pak occupied Sindh.

In a surge of pro-Palestine fervor, US universities on wednesday, reported disruption at four schools spanning Massachusetts, California, Texas, and New York.

At the University of Southern California (USC), Harvard University, the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), and Columbia University, discord unfolded amid divergent reactions to ongoing Israeli military actions in the Middle East.

Law enforcement intervened at USC, leading to the arrest of several protesters as tensions soared and USC DSP officers were called upon to restore order.

The US universities protests reflect widespread discontent with government policies and authorities amidst the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict. Students have mobilized, turning their campuses into focal points for demanding accountability and an end to violence in Gaza. But what ignited this sudden wave of unrest?

Start of protests from Columbia University

Columbia University emerged as the epicenter of the nationwide protests, following its decision to involve the New York Police Department in dispersing pro-Palestinian demonstrators, triggering a chain reaction of intense demonstrations.

The turmoil at Columbia began with the arrest of 108 demonstrators, including Isra Hirsi, daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar, prompting solidarity protests from institutions such as New York University, Yale University, and beyond.

The genesis of the protests can be traced back to April 17, when Columbia University President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik faced scrutiny over on-campus anti-Semitism during a congressional hearing. The subsequent police intervention escalated tensions, prompting students like Rachel, a Columbia student, to join the demonstrations, citing a growing sense of suppression and censorship.

The pro-Palestinian protests, advocating for divestment from Israeli companies and expressing solidarity with Palestinians, have resonated nationwide. Organizers view the protests as effective in urging administrations to consider divestment from Israel, despite facing pushback from conservative politicians advocating for a crackdown on demonstrators.

In a damning revelation, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has exposed Pakistan Army’s exploitation of resources in the uphills of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, depriving local inhabitants of their rightful ownership.

The latest tweet by PTM unveils a video from the resource-rich Tirah Maidan region, depicting mining and excavation activities being carried out under the guise of security measures.

“See how rare earth metals/gemstones are being extracted in Tirah Maidan district Khyber by ‘Security Czars’ in the name of security. While Tirah valley is a ‘no-go zone’ for locals. Almost one native is daily killed in Tirah in the name of security,” posted PTM.

Tirah Maidan remains inaccessible to the local populace, with Pakistan Army citing safety concerns due to its proximity to the Afghanistan border. However, PTM asserts that this restriction serves to conceal the Army’s exploitation rather than ensuring security.

Recent events further corroborate PTM’s claims, as Pakistan Army’s mortar shelling in Tirah Maidan claimed the lives of at least four innocent civilians, including two children. Pakistan attributed the deaths to a landmine explosion, allegedly planted to curb infiltration from Pakistan. However, PTM later exposed this manipulation and the true death toll.Pakistan Army’s tactics of deception continue to come under scrutiny, with local organizations like PTM striving to counter their narrative. As each instance of exploitation comes to light, Pakistan’s ulterior motives are laid bare for all to see.

Late on Sunday night, an attack on US military bases in Syria, allegedly carried out from Iraq, has heightened tensions in the region. Five rockets were fired at an American military base situated in the Nineveh province.

The attack on US military base was reportedly aimed at deterring U.S. forces from Iraq. The rockets were launched from a small truck in the Jummar area of Syria, near the Iraqi border.

According to reports, the attack was orchestrated by the Kataib Hezbollah group, backed by Iran in Iraq, which seeks to expel American forces from the region. This incident follows recent airstrikes by Israel and Iran in Syria, further exacerbating the already volatile situation in the Middle East.

The U.S. has yet to respond to the attack, but analysts fear that any retaliation could escalate tensions between Iran and western countries, leading to further instability in Iraq and Syria.