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Gaza ceasefire
After 1.5 years of ongoing violence in Gaza, a ceasefire deal has finally been reached between Gaza and Israel. The Prime Minister of Qatar confirmed the ceasefire in a press conference, marking a moment of great relief for the people of Palestine. The continuous violence has finally come to an end.
The death toll has tragically surpassed 47,000, leaving more than 110,000 wounded—an incredibly heartbreaking statistic. This 15-month-long conflict has deeply affected the Middle East. The Gaza ceasefire will begin on Sunday, January 19th, in three phases.
The agreement follows months of intermittent negotiations brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with the support of the United States. While this is a positive and crucial step for the people of Palestine, it is also a necessary move for the preservation of humanity.
In addition to Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon has also been impacted and the killing of innocent people is unacceptable under any circumstances. Pakistan has always stood with the people of Palestine during times of hardship and has consistently supported a ceasefire in Gaza. The international community must ensure that the ceasefire holds.
AREEBA ALTAF
Sindh
India’s laws should be made gender neutral
Our laws supporting women often lead to unfair situations for men. A case involving Nikita Singhania, who allegedly harassed her husband, Atul Suresh Singhania, to the point of suicide, highlights the issue.
Harassment and maintenance laws should be made gender-neutral to protect innocent men and ensure justice for all.
Although India has made substantial strides towards achieving gender equality, several difficulties still cannot be resolved by implementing measures to protect one’s gender.
Thus, we must progress towards achieving gender equality by reforming our laws to be more gender-neutral. Gender-neutral laws pertain to laws and policies that do not discriminate against individuals based on gender. These regulations ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender identity, are granted equal rights and opportunities.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Holy Qur’an
in Torwali
I would like to discuss an inspiring achievement that highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of Pakistan’s northern regions. Known for their breathtaking landscapes, these areas are home to endangered languages such as Torwali, spoken by fewer than 150,000 people in the Upper Swat Valley. In a historic moment, the Holy Quran has been translated into Torwali, marking a milestone in both cultural preservation and religious significance.
Torwali, once limited to oral communication due to the lack of a written script, faced the threat of extinction as speakers prioritized dominant languages like Urdu and Pashto for socioeconomic reasons. However, years of effort by local linguists and scholars led to the creation of a written script, paving the way for this groundbreaking translation.
This community-driven initiative, completed over three years by Torwali-speaking religious scholars without external funding, carefully navigated the complexities of Quranic Arabic to preserve its spiritual essence. The translation, celebrated on 12 Jan at Bilal Mosque in Bahrain, Swat Valley, brought together religious leaders, community members and linguistic groups, inspiring other endangered language communities, such as Gawri and Chitrali, to consider similar efforts.
Northern Pakistan, home to over 30 languages, faces a linguistic crisis as globalization and urbanization threaten many smaller languages. The translation of the Quran into Torwali serves as a beacon of hope, showcasing the power of grassroots efforts to preserve cultural identity while inspiring other communities to safeguard their unique linguistic and cultural heritage.
UBAID SAHIL
