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Bangladesh slaps sedition charges on Hindu leaders over saffron flag display

In a move sparking significant outcry, Bangladeshi authorities have filed a sedition case against Chinmoy Krishna Brahmachari, spokesperson for the Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, and 19 other Hindu community members for allegedly raising a saffron flag above the national flag in Chattogram. The case, filed on Wednesday night at Kotwali Police Station, includes charges under various sections of the Penal Code and accuses the group of undermining the nation’s sovereignty.

Plaintiff Firoz Khan, who lodged the complaint, named 19 individuals, including Lilraj Das Brahmachari, the head of ISKCON’s Prabartak Sri Krishna Temple, and 15-20 unnamed individuals. Chattogram Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md Tarek Aziz confirmed that two individuals, Rajesh Chowdhury and Hriday Das, have already been detained.

The incident allegedly occurred on October 25, during a rally organized by the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha at the Laldighi field in Chattogram. Following the anti-discrimination protests that led to the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina regime, a national flag was mounted at New Market square; however, reports surfaced alleging that a saffron flag—a color symbolizing the Hindu faith and associated with ISKCON—was placed above it during the rally. Images of the alleged incident quickly circulated on social media, fueling a wave of public outrage.

The rally drew a large turnout and included announcements for upcoming district and divisional rallies and a long march to Dhaka, intended to press the government to protect minority rights. The case argues that the act of placing a religious flag above the national symbol was a “seditious” attempt to destabilize the state and challenge its integrity.

The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) has denounced the charges as baseless, asserting that the case is a state-driven agenda to silence those advocating for minority rights. In a strong statement, the HRCBM condemned the charges against Hindu leaders, warning that these oppressive tactics echo patterns of past authoritarian regimes. “This systematic oppression, aimed at forcing minorities into submission, marks a dangerous shift in Bangladesh’s governance,” the HRCBM stated, urging international human rights advocates to speak out against what they see as an assault on minority rights.

https://twitter.com/hrcbm/status/1852187750126043308?t=cqcb7_kGvM-JtlIopjMuQQ&s=08

Pakistan: Maulana rapes and films twenty minor boys inside Madrasa

Another troubling case of children sexual abuse has emerged at a Pakistan’s madrasa, highlighting ongoing exploitation of about twenty innocent boys in Pakistan’s religious education system. It is being said that a Maulana at the Jamia Faizan-e Khushbu-e Madina seminary in Nala Musalmana, Rawalpindi District, sexually abused and filmed approximately 20 minor students. The innocent boys were also threatened into silence.

This is not a new phenomenon, madrasas in Pakistan have become a safe house for maulanans and Qadris to sexually exploit and abuse the minor students. Unfortunately, these culprits are getting a patronage of not only the prominent leaders but they also enjoy a great sense of respect because of their position as religious leader.

However, their gruesome crimes evidently show that these maulanas and their existence is evil for the society. It underscores the reality of Pakistan. This is not a new phenomenon, boys are often abused by the maulanas who were never held accountable. The law enforcement officials and justice system often come to rescue these pedophiles when children face molestation and are sexually abused. Child protection is virtually non-existent in Pakistan, where minor boys in madrasas and minority girls are often victimized by radical Islamists.

Radical Islamists abduct, gangrape & murder minor Hindu girl in Sindh

In a harrowing incident that underscores the systemic violence faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, the minor daughter of a Hindu resident, Hero Kohli, was abducted by four Muslim men in Sindhri three days ago. The girl, named Keshu, was subjected to brutal gang-rape during her captivity. Tragically, she was discovered unconscious and thrown outside her home, succumbing to her injuries before reaching Mirpurkhas Hospital.

The response from local authorities has been appalling. Instead of investigating the heinous crime committed against Keshu, police have arrested her parents, falsely accusing them of prostitution involving their daughter. This grotesque twist of justice exemplifies the extreme vulnerability of minority communities in Pakistan, particularly Hindu families who frequently find themselves caught in a web of abuse and neglect by the Paki establishment.

Families of kidnapped girls often face a grim reality: when they report abductions, they are met with counter-accusations from the kidnappers, who falsely assert that the marriages to their abducted daughters are consensual. Victims are coerced into silence, intimidated into testifying in favor of their abductors, leaving families powerless and desperate. The fear of retaliation looms large, forcing many to accept the status quo rather than pursue justice.

The ongoing abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan reveal a broader pattern of oppression and violence against religious minorities. Hindu communities in Sindh have long been marginalized, derogatorily labeled as “kafirs” and subjected to societal scorn and discrimination. This case not only highlights the tragic fate of Keshu but also serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive atmosphere of fear and hostility that surrounds minority groups in Pakistan.

Protests sweep POB as Baloch demand end to Pak Army kidnappings

Protests erupted across Pak-occupied-Balochistan under the powerful theme “Breaking the Silence: Standing Against Enforced Disappearances”, as Baloch community raised their voices against Pakistan’s oppressive tactics of forced disappearances. In Nokundi, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) organized a large rally that saw men, women and even children marching in unity, carrying photos of their loved ones who have vanished under mysterious circumstances attributed to the Pakistan Army’s actions. The rally moved from Shaheed Hameed Chowk to Nokundi Bazaar, where protesters held a sit-in, demanding justice and the immediate release of those abducted.

These protests form part of a larger campaign by BYC, which has already seen powerful demonstrations in Karachi, Hub Chowki, Khuzdar, Turbat, Panjgur, Kharan, Quetta, Nushki, Dalbandin, and Chagai. Each protest serves as a testimony to the deepening crisis in POB, where enforced disappearances have become a daily reality for families who live in fear under an occupying force that seems hell bent on silencing the Baloch voice.

‘Breaking the Silence’

BYC’s recent calls to action come amidst an alarming spike in the frequency of these disappearances, driven by the Pak Army and its shadowy network of collaborators. Human rights groups and international observers have long criticized Pakistan for its unchecked use of enforced disappearances as a weapon to suppress Baloch community in their homeland. However, the silence of global human rights defenders only compounds the suffering, as the Paki establishment grows more emboldened in its campaign of terror against the Baloch people.

The voices that echoed through the streets of Nokkundi, as in many other towns across POB, were not just cries for justice—they were defiant calls against an occupation that has pushed POB into a state of constant fear and insecurity. The Pak Army’s actions have left a trail of despair, as families wait endlessly for news of their disappeared loved ones, often only to discover their tragic fates later in the form of mutilated bodies. The “Breaking the Silence” campaign stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of Pakistan’s authoritarian rule in Balochistan.

Punjabi Pak Army arrests & tortures Pashtun activists amid Loralai crackdown

The Punjabi Pak Army-state’s campaign of terror against Pashtuns has intensified, as peaceful protesters in Loralai face brutal repression for demanding justice. Among those targeted is Asmat, a worker of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), who was tortured and arrested along with other activists for protesting the inclusion of PTM members in the Fourth Schedule. Despite sustaining injuries and being granted bail, they have been detained again under the draconian Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law—an act of occupied-state terrorism aimed at crushing any resistance.

The crackdown reflects the Paki establishment’s strategy of silencing dissent through violence and arbitrary detentions. Loralai police, acting on three MPO warrants, arrested Asmat and others, detaining them for four days without justification. The detention of activists even after securing bail, exposes how the Army-state misuses its power to punish those who dare to challenge its oppressive policies. This relentless assault on PTM workers is a clear attempt to stifle the growing movement that demands accountability, justice and respect for Pashtun rights.

The PTM, which has long demanded justice for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Punjabi Pak Army atrocities in Pashtun regions. For years, the Army has treated the Pashtun population as pawn in their game at first and then enemies later, imposing collective punishment through military operations, harassment, and forced displacements. These repressive tactics, now extending to peaceful movements like PTM, reveal the Army’s desperation to maintain control by silencing any voice for justice.

Pak Army abducts Baloch school students across Pak-occupied Balochistan

In yet another display of brutality, Pakistan Army abducted a young student, Attaullah, son of Jumma Khan, from his home in Kali Jumma Khan, Quetta, on September 5. The 14-year-old boy, an eighth-grade student attending classes regularly, has been missing ever since, with no information about his whereabouts. On October 19, Pak forces abducted another student, 17-year-old Qadeer Ahmed, son of Lal Bakhsh, from the Pasni area of POB.

This forced disappearance is part of the ongoing campaign of repression in Pak-occupied-Balochistan, where the Pakistan Army has been systematically silencing Baloch voices through abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The boy’s family is no stranger to the occupied-state’s tyranny. A relative, Muhammad Ali Chapar, was abducted by Pak forces in Kalat, only to be found dead later—an example of the infamous “kill-and-dump” policy frequently employed by the military to crush Baloch community.

For decades, Baloch families have been living under the shadow of fear, targeted by military-backed death squads and subjected to forced disappearances. The Paki establishment’s colonial mindset has treated Baloch lives as disposable, with children like Attaullah becoming the latest victims of a occupied-state apparatus that operates with complete impunity.

The abduction of a schoolboy underscores how deep the military’s oppression runs in POB, where even children are not spared from being pawns in the Army’s violent campaign to subjugate the region. It is a reflection of the systematic atrocities inflicted on the Baloch people since Pakistan’s forceful occupation of the region in 1948.

Imaan Mazari, prominent critic of Paki regime, taken into custody by Islamabad police

Islamabad police have arrested renowned lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari along with her husband, citing interference in official duties.

The arrest took place following an altercation at the Zero Point Interchange, where roads had been blocked to facilitate the England cricket team’s movement to the stadium. Reports suggest that Mazari and her husband violated traffic routes, prompting police action. A case was registered against the couple for their actions at the scene.

The confrontation escalated when Mazari allegedly pushed officers and used abusive language. She and her husband were also seen removing barricades placed by traffic police.

Imaan Mazari is widely recognized for her outspoken activism against Pak Army’s enforced disappearances and violence against women. Known for her critical stance toward the military establishment, Mazari has repeatedly called out the authorities over their involvement in disappearances. Her criticism has previously resulted in arrests, reflecting the tense relationship between the activist and Paki regime.

Attack on Pak Army’s exploitative dam project in Pak-occupied Balochistan

In POB’s Panjgur district, armed fighters launched a targeted assault on personnel guarding an under-construction dam in the Prom Tehsil, near Daz Gut. The personnel are comprised of members of a notorious Army-backed militia, referred to as a “death squad”, tasked with protecting Pak Army’s agenda in the occupied-region.

The use of such militias reflects the Pakistan Army’s long-standing strategy of outsourcing repression to local proxies, often comprised of criminals and mercenaries, to suppress dissent and control resources. These so-called death squads are involved in terrorizing Baloch civilians, silencing opposition, and eliminating activists under Army’s directives.

Intense gunfire was exchanged between the armed assailants and the militia. However, no official information about casualties or damages has been released.

The attack comes at a time when Baloch nationalist groups continue to resist Pakistan’s exploitative projects, which are tools for plundering POB’s natural wealth while the region’s indigenous people remain impoverished. The incident once again exposes the Pak regime’s failure to impose control over POB, despite resorting to brutal tactics including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the use of death squads.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but Baloch freedom fighters have intensified their campaigns against Army-backed projects, as they are the instruments of colonial exploitation by Paki establishment.

Punjabi Pak Army abducts journalist Khan M. Shar and his family

In a chilling incident highlighting the brutality, journalist Khan M. Shar and his family have been abducted by Punjab Police in Rahimyar Khan, Punjab (Pak). Their whereabouts remain unknown, raising alarm among human rights advocates and journalists who fear for their safety. This comes on the heels of a recent extrajudicial killing of a student by the same police force, underscoring a disturbing pattern of violence and repression.

The plight of the Sindhi community has been further exacerbated by the tragic case of Saajan Malookani, a Sindhi law student who was forcibly disappeared 14 months ago by the Pakistan Army. In a horrific twist, Malookani was later killed in a staged encounter by Punjab Police, a tactic often employed to cover up Army-sponsored violence. This brutal act serves as a grim reminder of the lengths to which the military establishment will go to eliminate dissent and intimidate those who challenge their authority.

The Pakistan military’s systematic approach to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings reveals a deliberate strategy to crush ethnic and nationalist movements in Sindh. By fostering a culture of fear and oppression, Pak Army operate with impunity, shielded from the rule of law and accountability. Malookani’s assassination starkly illustrates the ruthlessness of the Paki establishment, where a colonial mindset drives efforts to silence any voice.

Punjabi Pak Army advises officers to stay home over fears of Pashtun retaliation

The Paki regime’s reckless policies in Pashtun regions continue to spiral out of control as Dera Ismail Khan’s Deputy Commissioner issued a notification advising all government officers to remain at home due to “threats” to their safety—despite these officers being well-guarded and equipped with all necessary amenities.

This circular highlights the growing insecurity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a result of the Punjabi Pak military’s flawed strategy to rule the Pashtun lands through a hand-picked organizations under the guise of “reforms.” Rather than stabilizing the region, these policies have empowered and employed rogue elements and left the local Pashtun population to bear the brunt of unchecked militancy and administrative collapse.

Adding to the hypocrisy, while occupied-government officers retreat into safety, the Paki establishment has cracked down mercilessly on peaceful activists. Last month, numerous members of the peaceful Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) were arrested and detained in various jails under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance, despite their nonviolent activism. This targeting of PTM—known for opposing Punjabi Pak Army high-handedness—reflects the Punjabi Army elites’s fear of accountability and its attempt to silence Pashtuns.