Sayeeda Warsi for equal rights in Muslim states

LAHORE:The Muslim countries should give equal rights to the other communities as a country is always known by the way it treats it minorities.

According to a press release, this was stated by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, lately chairperson of Conservative Party, UK and former Foreign Office Minister, on Sunday, the concluding day of the second edition of “Afkar-e-Taza”—ThinkFest. The two-day festival was organised by the Information Technology University (ITU) in collaboration with Federal Higher Education Commission (HEC), Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) and other private sector organizsations. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said, "We should question ourselves and not to judge others. We should ask ourselves what we are saying, what we believe and what we are doing." While general elections in Pakistan are nearing, the people should ask tough questions and not to judge the candidates on the number of weddings and funerals they attended or how many police stations they control, she said.

Sayeeda Warsi said the Israeli army action in Ghaza conflict was inappropriate and, being first Muslim British minister, she quit which was considered appropriate. Earlier, opening the session, Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin, PHEC chairman, urged the 57 universities of the Punjab province to develop a culture of discussion and debate as initiated by the ITU and added that PHEC would extend full support. He said the PHEC was also planning to hold similar activities in Multan, Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi.

In a session on Rohingyas: Inside the Burmese Genocide, speaker Azeem Ibrahim from US Army College termed it the greatest humanity crisis with largest stateless people to the tune of 650,000 displaced in a worst situation, facing ethnic cleansing while Myanmar having no outer threat was using arms against its own people and their land had been redistributed among the locals.

Omar Waraich from Amnesty International said that Rohingya people should be given dignified and safe existence instead of calling them illegal invaders. 'Facilities at LGH improve': Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Principal Prof Ghias un Nabi Tayyab has said the confidence of patients has increased in facilities at Lahore General Hospital after introduction of the smart management and quality healthcare.

As a proof of it, 1,869,644 patients were given treatment in the emergency and outdoor departments of Lahore General Hospital (LGH) in just one year, 2017, he added. According to a handout issued here on Sunday, the principal said that in the light of the directions of Punjab government, quality had been ensured and all sections had provided extraordinary facilities to the patients.

Prof Ghias un Nabi said 63,039 patients were admitted to the hospital and 32,210 major and 58,412 minor operations were undertaken in 2017. The PGMI principal expressed satisfaction over the performance of the doctors, nurses and other medical staff.

PU team to visit Kasur: On the directions of Punjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zakria Zakir, a team of social sciences experts and psychologists would be sent to Kasur on Monday (today) for launch of a countrywide awareness campaign and research against child abuse in the wake of recent barbaric incident in Kasur.

According to press statement, Prof Dr Zakria Zakir said social researchers of PU would make efforts to solve the societal problems especially the crime against children. He said the committee of experts from various disciplines would visit Kasur’s schools to create awareness among children.

Prof Zakir also assured that the PU scientists would do scientific research so that such incidents could be prevented in future. He said PU would also collaborate with Child Protection Bureau, Department of Social Welfare and Department of Schools to devise a comprehensive strategy to address this issue on a long-term basis. He also directed all the departments of behavioural and social sciences to plan short-term and long-term measures to prevent sexual violence against children.