Pakistani woman artists connect via WhatsApp after actor’s death spotlights growing urban isolation

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Updated 21 July 2025
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Pakistani woman artists connect via WhatsApp after actor’s death spotlights growing urban isolation

Pakistani woman artists connect via WhatsApp after actor’s death spotlights growing urban isolation
  • Humaira Asghar, 42, was found dead at her rented flat in Karachi on July 18, at least nine months after her passing
  • Yashma Gill, one of the WhatsApp group admins, says human connection is very important amid growing urban isolation

ISLAMABAD: Women in Pakistan’s entertainment industry have come closer and created a WhatsApp group to check in on each other and ensure immediate help to anyone going through difficult times, following this month’s shocking death of Humaira Asghar.

The 42-year-old, originally from Lahore, was found dead at her rented flat in Karachi on July 18, at least nine months after her passing. Pakistani police have said medico-legal authorities found no traces of toxins in her body.

The case stirred a debate in Pakistan about the silent toll of urban isolation, especially in large cities like Karachi, where rapid expansion, changing family structures and weakening community bonds are quietly reshaping how people live — and die.

Hundreds of Pakistani women, including actors, directors, producers and makeup artists, have joined the WhatsApp group, ‘Connectivity 101,’ after the idea was proposed by Zhalay Sarhadi, Yashma Gill, Sonia Hussain, Mansha Pasha and others.

“The core purpose of Connectivity 101 is to create networking through a platform, connectivity through a platform, through which people can talk about their problems... people can inquire about well-being and keep a check on each other,” Gill said in an interview, adding it came into existence after the tragic passing of Asghar.

Asghar’s death came weeks after renowned actor Ayesha Khan was found dead in her apartment in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, according to police. Her neighbors had reported a foul smell emitting out of her apartment that led to the discovery of the 84-year-old’s body.

Gill, one of the Connectivity 101 admins, said the initiative was taken after it was realized that people working in the industry, especially women, are usually not able to stay in touch with their families, friends and even colleagues due to their busy schedules.

“This connection is very important not just to celebrate good times, but also to support each other in hard times,” she said.

Nearly 44 percent of Pakistanis now live in urban areas, up from 35 percent in 2010, according to World Bank estimates. Mental health experts have warned that loneliness isn’t just a social issue but a serious health risk.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Afridi, a Karachi-based psychiatrist, last week cited World Health Organization (WHO) findings that over 870,000 people died globally in 2024 due to conditions linked to extreme isolation.

“In fact, loneliness has been found to be more painful and damaging than conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure,” he said. “It has also been observed that people who get disconnected from their friends, family and social circles often develop several diseases along with physical, psychological and social issues.”

Gill shared that they have introduced a poll system in the group through which members can mark their presence or inform that they will not be available for a few days.

She said only women from the industry are added to the group through trusted references, with a few protocols set for everyone. She said group members are even urged to exercise “extreme caution” while communicating with each other so that everyone benefits and no negative situation arises.

“I am pro-friendships, people should become friends. But these are celebrities and girls that we are talking about, so things should be taken care of,” she added.


Afghan refugees say they are being ‘pushed out’ as Pakistan begins deportation

Afghan refugees say they are being ‘pushed out’ as Pakistan begins deportation
Updated 18 sec ago
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Afghan refugees say they are being ‘pushed out’ as Pakistan begins deportation

Afghan refugees say they are being ‘pushed out’ as Pakistan begins deportation
  • Dozens of Afghan refugee families gather in Islamabad’s public park after being evicted from homes
  • Pakistan launched a deportation drive in 2023 that it says targets undocumented foreigners only 

ISLAMABAD : Dozens of Afghan refugee families, including women, children and the elderly, gathered in a public park in Islamabad on Saturday after being evicted from their homes under Pakistan’s crackdown on undocumented migrants.

 With no aid from authorities or NGOs, they endured police raids, food shortages and the constant fear of deportation to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

“We have nowhere to go,” said Fahima Khatoon, 45, whose children were born in Pakistan. “My daughter is in university, if sent back, she’ll face Taliban brutality.”

Families cooked with their own meagre resources, often eating just once a day, while police raids forced them into hiding.

“This is our bed, the sky is our roof,” said 38-year-old Professor Ahmed Zia, pointing to the rain-soaked ground where an 18-day-old baby slept.

Pakistan’s repatriation plan has drawn criticism from rights groups. Over 2.1 million Afghans have already fled back this year, overwhelming Afghanistan’s collapsed economy. Despite a supposed grace period, evictions continued, leaving refugees in legal limbo.

“We’re not criminals,” Zia added. “We just want to survive.”

The repatriation drive by Pakistan is part of a campaign called the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan launched in late 2023.

In addition to the repatriation from Pakistan, Afghanistan also faces a fresh wave of mass deportations from Iran.

Aid groups worry that the influx risks further destabilizing the country.

 


IED explosion derails five Jaffar Express train coaches in southwestern Pakistan

IED explosion derails five Jaffar Express train coaches in southwestern Pakistan
Updated 10 August 2025
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IED explosion derails five Jaffar Express train coaches in southwestern Pakistan

IED explosion derails five Jaffar Express train coaches in southwestern Pakistan
  • All passengers safe as explosion occurs on track near Spezand Railway station in Quetta city, say Pakistan Railways 
  • Jaffar Express has been frequently targeted by militant attacks, including a hijacking in March that killed 23 soldiers

KARACHI: An improvised explosive device (IED) blast derailed five coaches of the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express in southwestern Balochistan province on Sunday, Pakistan Railways confirmed in yet another attack targeting the train. 

The IED blast took place on a train track near Quetta’s Spezand Railway Station on Sunday morning, the railways said in a press release. It added that five coaches of the 39-Up Jaffar Express train, which runs from Quetta to Peshawar, had been derailed while all passengers remained safe. 

“Railway and security teams are present at the scene, and rescue operations have begun,” the statement said.

It said the railway administration will bring passengers back to the southwestern city of Quetta in light of the security situation, adding that train operations from Quetta will resume after authorities provide security clearance.

Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi condemned the attack.

“Terrorists’ cowardly acts cannot weaken our resolve,” Abbasi said in a statement issued by railways. 

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is the fourth incident involving Jaffar Express since it resumed operations in March, following a rare hijacking by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) separatist militants with 400 passengers aboard.

The hijacking in the rugged Bolan mountain range ended on March 12 after an hours-long military operation that killed 33 militants and rescued hostages. The standoff also left 23 soldiers, three railway staff and five passengers dead.

In June, the train narrowly avoided a disaster when a bogie of its power van derailed near Shikarpur’s Mandi Phatak area, according to a report by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan.

In late July, at least one person was injured when an explosion derailed three coaches of the train in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province. 

The coaches derailed in Sindh’s Shikarpur district after the explosion damaged part of the railway track, halting railway operations briefly. 

The train narrowly escaped disaster on Thursday when a bomb planted near the track close to Sibi Railway Station exploded, just after the Jaffar Express passed. 

Pakistan’s railway system faces frequent derailments due to poor maintenance and militant attacks targeting rail tracks, especially in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces.

These incidents underscore an urgent need for infrastructure and security upgrades across the rail network.


Pakistan says Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza ‘flagrant’ violation of international law

Pakistan says Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza ‘flagrant’ violation of international law
Updated 10 August 2025
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Pakistan says Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza ‘flagrant’ violation of international law

Pakistan says Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza ‘flagrant’ violation of international law
  • Israel’s cabinet this week approved a plan to take control of Gaza, drawing outrage from Muslim states worldwide
  • Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Turkish FM express “grave concern” at humanitarian situation in Gaza, says Pakistan’s foreign office 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday condemned Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza city, saying it was a “flagrant violation” of international law. 

After a security cabinet meeting on Friday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed a plan to take over Gaza had been approved. A statement said the Israeli Defense Forces would prepare to take control of Gaza while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.

The move drew a sharp reaction from several countries around the world, including Pakistan, while UN human rights chief Volker Turk this week called on Israel to immediately halt its plan. 

“The DPM/FM condemned the Israeli plan for a complete military takeover, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and UNSC resolutions,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement. 

Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, was speaking to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan over the telephone on Saturday night. 

Both leaders reviewed the Pakistan–Türkiye bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional and international developments, the foreign office said. 

The two diplomats expressed “grave concern” at the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Pakistani foreign office added. 

“He [Dar] also stressed the urgent need for providing unimpeded humanitarian assistance, and an end to Israeli impunity,” the statement concluded. 

Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into Gaza since Israel began its military operations there nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals require to power their generators.

Israel’s offensives have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023, according to Hamas-run Gaza’s health ministry, whose figures the United Nations says are reliable.


Pakistan army chief meets senior American political, military leadership during US visit

Pakistan army chief meets senior American political, military leadership during US visit
Updated 42 min 42 sec ago
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Pakistan army chief meets senior American political, military leadership during US visit

Pakistan army chief meets senior American political, military leadership during US visit
  • Syed Asim Munir attends retirement ceremony of former CENTCOM chief General Michael E. Kurilla
  • Pakistan’s powerful military plays a central role in shaping the country’s foreign and security policies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has engaged with senior American military and political leadership during his ongoing visit to the United States, the military’s media wing said on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks closer defense and security ties with Washington. 

The development takes place as Pakistan eyes greater collaboration with the US under President Donald Trump. After years of strained relations, mainly over counter‑terrorism disagreements, both nations appear keen to rebuild military and economic ties under the new American administration.

“Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), is undertaking an official visit to the United States,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.

“During the visit, he has engaged in high-level interactions with senior political and military leadership, as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora.”

In Tampa, the Pakistan army chief attended the retirement ceremony of outgoing United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael E. Kurilla, and the change of command ceremony that marked the assumption of command by Admiral Brad Cooper, his successor, the military’s media wing said.

Munir lauded General Kurilla’s leadership and his contributions to strengthening bilateral military cooperation between Pakistan and the US.

He extended his best wishes to Admiral Cooper, expressing confidence in continued collaboration to address shared security challenges, the ISPR added. 

The Pakistani army chief also met US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, where matters of mutual professional interest were discussed, the military’s media wing said.

“On the sidelines, COAS interacted with Chiefs of Defense from friendly nations,” the statement added, without mentioning the names of the countries. 

Munir’s engagements included an interaction with the Pakistani diaspora in the US, during which the army chief urged them to “remain confident in Pakistan’s bright future and to actively contribute to attracting investments.”

“The diaspora reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Pakistan’s progress and development,” the ISPR said. 

Munir’s visit to the US signifies growing closeness between Pakistan and the US. This is the Pakistan army chief’s second visit to the country since June, when Trump hosted him for an unprecedented lunch at the White House. 

Both leaders discussed the tensions in the Middle East, particularly the then Iran-Israel military conflict. 

Under Trump’s renewed outreach, Washington has praised Pakistan’s leadership and reinstated military cooperation previously curtailed over Afghanistan-related concerns. Islamabad, in turn, seeks to balance its longstanding partnership with China, including arms supply and defense infrastructure, with growing engagement with the US. 

Both countries last week finalized a trade deal according to which the US will charge a 19 percent tariff on imports from Pakistan, compared to a 29 percent reciprocal tariff announced in April that had raised alarm in Islamabad.

Separately, Trump highlighted a partnership with Pakistan to develop the country’s oil reserves. 

Pakistan’s powerful military, which has ruled the country directly for nearly half of its history and holds sway in political matters even when not in power, plays a central role in shaping its foreign and security policies.


Over 60,000 expected to attend ‘Emirates Loves Pakistan’ celebrations in Dubai today

Over 60,000 expected to attend ‘Emirates Loves Pakistan’ celebrations in Dubai today
Updated 10 August 2025
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Over 60,000 expected to attend ‘Emirates Loves Pakistan’ celebrations in Dubai today

Over 60,000 expected to attend ‘Emirates Loves Pakistan’ celebrations in Dubai today
  • Public event to mark Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day will be held at Dubai Exhibition Center in Expo City
  • Singers Sahir Ali Bagga, Sufi singer Natasha Baig and storyteller Yousuf Bashir Quresh to perform at event

ISLAMABAD: At least 60,000 participants are expected to attend a public celebration event marking Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day in Dubai today, Sunday, the UAE’s official news agency said. 

The event titled ‘Emirates Loves Pakistan’ will be held at the Dubai Exhibition Center in Expo City and will be attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE’s minister of tolerance and coexistence, alongside Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, WAM reported. 

Diplomats, economic representatives and “notable social figures” from the Pakistani community in the country will also be at the event, which WAM said is being organized by ‘Emirates Loves Pakistan’ — a platform dedicated to sharing content that highlights the success stories and contributions of the Pakistani community in the UAE, in collaboration with the Pakistan Association in Dubai, with support from Dubai Police.

“The occasion will feature activities reflecting the cultural heritage, arts, and folklore of Pakistan, as well as acknowledging the historical relations and diplomatic ties between the two nations,” WAM said in a report on Saturday. 

“The event, expected to draw approximately 60,000 attendees, will include a ceremony to acknowledge distinguished members of the Pakistani community in the UAE, accompanied by cultural performances, artistic exhibitions, musical presentations, and traditional folklore activities,” it added.

The program will also include events to highlight Pakistan’s traditions, the contributions of the Pakistani community to the UAE’s sustainable development, and a recognition of their achievements, it added. 

The event will also include live performances by Pakistani singing powerhouses Sahir Ali Bagga, Sufi rock sensation Natasha Baig, and renowned storyteller Yousuf Bashir Qureshi.

Pakistan marks its Independence Day each year on August 14 to celebrate the day it secured independence from British rule in India. Pakistan embassies across the world hold special events marking the significance of independence while special programs are held across the country to mark the occasion. 

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the US, and is considered a critical market due to its geographic proximity and logistical advantages.

The Gulf state is also Pakistan’s second-largest source of foreign remittances, after Saudi Arabia, with over 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates living and working there.