Here’s what’s happening across the border: Police manhandle protesting journalists and a free kidney treatment facility in Quetta.
National park vs cricket stadium, CJP takes the call
Chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar forbade Friday the construction of a cricket ground in Shakaparian, Islamabad, if it falls within the limits of the national park, GeoTV reported.
A three-judge bench headed by Nisar was hearing a petition filed by former civil servant Roedad Khan, who had termed the proposed cricket ground anti-environment. Nisar asked Khan to first establish whether the ground fell within the limits of the Shakaraparian national park. “If it does, then it cannot be constructed there,” he added.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi told the bench that they would “return the land if it falls within the park”.
Journalists ‘manhandled’ on World Press Freedom Day
Chief justice of Pakistan Nisar has ordered an inquiry into the alleged manhandling of journalists by Islamabad police during a march towards the Red Zone on World Press Freedom Day, Thursday. Red Zone is the seat of the Pakistan government as well as its diplomatic enclave.
The journalists sought to present a charter of demands to the country’s parliament amid increased censorship of media coverage. As they marched towards the parliament house from the National Press Club, police personnel stopped and reportedly manhandled them. Police have alleged the protesters tried to break through the cordon.
Taking suo motu notice of the episode, the chief justice of Pakistan remarked that the protesters were peaceful, and lamented the lack of respect among police personnel for journalists.
Pakistan’s youth at its peak
Youth currently account for a larger share of Pakistan’s population than they ever have in the country’s history, according to the national human development report released Wednesday. This also makes Pakistan one of the world’s youngest countries. The report also ranked it the second youngest country in south Asia after Afghanistan. Dr Adil Najam, one of the authors of the study, stressed the importance of investment in this young labour force to make the most of it.
Free kidney treatment facility in Quetta
A modern public health facility opened up in Quetta Wednesday that is expected to serve over 14,000 Pakistanis and Afghan refugees every year. It is a joint venture of the provincial health department, the Balochistan Institute of Nephro-Urology, and the UN refugee agency UNHCR. The government of Quetta has provided dialysis machines and trained the staff, while the UNHCR has provided space for a dialysis unit. To begin with, the facility will treat 60 patients with renal disease a day for free, saving each of them (Pakistan) Rs 6,000.