David Cameron's Attack on Muslim Women Unjustified

Learning English or any language for that matter is a good thing. However, to threaten a group of individuals that they'll be thrown out of a country because of their language skills is unacceptable and not reflective of a society which encourages equal rights and opportunities for all.

I am not aware of any country which has such a law in place. Can you imagine having to do a language test at airports before entering a country? If we decide to throw out people who cannot speak English, will we do the same to those who lack in Mathematical ability? Maths is also important in one's everyday life. Do we set a certain level of English which is acceptable? Where do we draw the line?

David Cameron's attack on Muslim women makes it clear that this isn't about language skills but this is about singling out a community. There are men and women of other religions and nationalities who struggle with English. Why didn't he mention them?

Our elders came to this country without knowing a word of English yet they managed to establish themselves through hard work and dedication. I am not against the concept of people learning English but I oppose discrimination against those who can't speak it fluently.

A few years ago, I was suffering from a serious back problem. I received help from a Chinese doctor (private) who struggled with the English language. I found it difficult to communicate with her but at the end of the day, she was the one who helped me to recover. The English speaking doctors (NHS) couldn't do much to help me. Therefore, let's not judge people on their language skills alone. There are people who can't speak English well but they make a positive contribution to society.

It's hypocritical of David Cameron to cut funds for English language courses and at the same time, insult those who can't speak the language. It's clear that the Conservatives want to establish a society in which the privileged and educated are given priority at all times. However, Britain is what it is today because of hard working people of all social backgrounds and that includes our elders who worked long and hard hours in factories - making a contribution to Britain, without knowing a word of English.

Sameer Hussain, Dadyal Online. 

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Protests as Dadyal's Nadra Registration Office Shutdown

The Nadra registration office in Dadyal has been shutdown by authorities. The decision has angered the community which has led to several protests. Locals will now have to travel to the nearest office in Mirpur city in order to access ID card activation or renewal services as well as general enquiries. The additional cost and time involved in travel will be a significant problem especially for those who struggle to make ends meet.

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Two Women Brutally Beaten by Chaudhary Riyasat in Chattroh

Chattroh, Dadyal: Chaudhary Riyasat of Chattroh brutally beat two women at their residence. The shocking incident took place after Riyasat's involvement in a divorce settlement case in which it was agreed that a husband would take custody of the child after divorcing his wife. Riyasat was involved in coordinating the settlement which stipulated that the father would take the child to the visit the mother at her residence in Chattroh every Sunday. 

On the first Sunday, problems arose when the father came to collect his son in the evening. On the same day, the mother's aunty had passed away which meant that her parents were not at home. The mother of the child insisted that her parents were on their way home and wanted them to meet her son before he was taken away. However, this angered the father who immediately contacted Chaudhary Riyasat to complain. Riyasat entered the mother's residence and took advantage of the fact that there were only two women at home. He went on to abuse the women using derogatory swear words and snatched the child from them. Riyasat brutally beat the women using sticks which led to them sustaining serious head injuries. The women had to have between 10 to 20 stitches each and are currently hospitalised. 

Initially, the police were not willing to register an FIR against Chaudhary Riyasat because he has links with influential people. However, an organisation known as 'Anjuman Nada-e-Haq' got involved in the case to support the innocent women, and an FIR has now been registered. But the police won't arrest Riyasat because he has links with senior officials who have given orders to protect him. None of Dadyal's political leaders have spoken up on the issue. 

It seems that the women are in a helpless situation; they have little hope of justice. However, a few prominent members of the community, including renown writer, Wahid Kashir, and social activists, Saleem Butt, Tayyab Aslam and Jamil Ahmed, as well as others, have highlighted the case on social media platforms such as Facebook. They intend to increase awareness of the case so that pressure is built up on the authorities and leadership to take action. They have become the voice of the voiceless and helpless women who are in desperate need of justice. 

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