Aleena Zara Malik

The internet has a lot to say about Pakistan, and a surprising amount of it skips the same fact. From the country labelled an &quot;epicentre of terror&quot; by international media to the same country that has been the longest and largest contributor of UN peacekeepers. This episode of Debunkistan puts the West&#39;s favourite framing on trial, with satire, sarcasm, and a little reality check.

Debunkistan

Pakistan has served in 48 UN peacekeeping missions since 1960, deploying thousands of troops and women peacekeepers across global conflict zones while sacrificing 181 personnel, underscoring its longstanding role in supporting international peace and security.

What Black Hawk Down forgot to mention about Pakistan

REYKJAVIK, Iceland: One of Iceland&#39;s two remaining whaling ships set out this week to hunt the giant mammals after a two-year hiatus, local media and campaigners reported on Saturday. Iceland is one of only three countries that still openly permit whaling, alongside Norway and Japan -- despite international opprobrium from the public and animal welfare organisations. A protester chained himself to the mast of the vessel before it left the port of Reykjavik on Friday. He climbing down in the evening and was escorted away by police, RUV media said. &quot;It is so disheartening to see Iceland&#39;s whaling boat leave port to begin another season of whale slaughter despite overwhelming evidence that there is no humane way to kill a whale,&quot; Joanna Swabe of the Humane World for Animals NGO said after the second vessel headed out to sea. &quot;These ocean giants will very likely endure an agonising death for meat that virtually no one in Iceland wants to eat,&quot; she told AFP. Iceland cancelled its whale hunt in 2024 and 2025, partly because economic woes had cut demand and the industry was not deemed sufficiently profitable. The International Whaling Commission banned the commercial killing of whales in 1986 amid alarm at the declining stock of the marine mammals. Iceland and Norway are the only two countries still openly practising commercial whaling in defiance of the moratorium. Japan hunts the ocean giants for what it claims is &quot;scientific&quot; purposes, even if most of the meat ends up on the market for consumption. Iceland&#39;s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute has recommended a reduction in the number of whales harpooned this season, which runs from mid-June to mid-September. The 2026 annual number of fin whales killed should not exceed 150 animals, a 28-percent drop on the recommended annual catch for the period 2018&ndash;2025, it said. The fin whale is the second largest animal on Earth after the blue whale. The Institute set an annual quota of 168 animals for the minke whale hunt this year, a 23-percent drop. The government is due this autumn to table a bill on banning whaling altogether.

Wildlife

Iceland resumes commercial whaling after a two-year pause as one of its remaining whaling ships departs despite protests, reduced catch quotas, and plans for the government to consider banning the practice later this year.

Iceland resumes whale hunt amid protest

LOS ANGELES: High-scoring Germany face a powerful Ivory Coast side at the World Cup on Saturday with the winner guaranteed a place in the last 32, while Sweden can also book their ticket. Those three nations can join co-hosts the United States and Mexico who are already through. Germany thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 in their opener and would be confirmed as Group E winners if they defeat Ivory Coast in Toronto and Ecuador fail to beat Curacao in Kansas City. Progressing to the knockout round would be a relief for the Germans who astonishingly have failed to reach that stage since they won their fourth World Cup in Brazil in 2014. So tight are the margins that Ivory Coast could lock up their place in the next round too, if they beat the Germans. Julian Nagelsmann said his team had to be prepared for Ivory Coast&#39;s athleticism. &quot;Their speed is one of their biggest strengths and that&#39;s what I think they do best,&quot; he told reporters, highlighting the French-born Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe. &quot;During the last game, he was everywhere,&quot; Nagelsmann said of Pepe. Ivory Coast could also count on forward Elye Wahi who has been authorized to enter Canada after initially being denied a visa over reported spot-fixing allegations in France. Sweden face the Netherlands in Houston knowing that a win will secure a place in the knockout round &ndash; an extraordinary turnaround for the Scandinavians who only qualified for the World Cup through the Nations League, essentially the back door. Coach Graham Potter warned that Sweden striker Alexander Isak will get &quot;stronger and stronger&quot; as the tournament goes on. Isak had a poor season by his standards, interrupted by frequent injuries, after Liverpool paid Newcastle United a British record &pound;125 million ($165 million) for him. He made a strong start to the World Cup, though, as the 26-year-old scored one goal and set up two in the 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia. &quot;Alex has had a season that has been interrupted,&quot; Potter said. &quot;Most football players would say they need a certain amount of time and games to get up to top, top level, so we&#39;ve had to try to build Alex up. I think there&#39;s more to come from him.&quot; 1,000th game History will be made in another of Saturday&#39;s games as Japan face Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico for the 1,000th game at a World Cup. Hajime Moriyasu warned his Japan side they will need to match the intensity of a Tunisia team fired up by the introduction of coach Herve Renard after Sabri Lamouchi became the first coach in World Cup history to be sacked after one game. On Friday, the United States marched into the knockout round with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle. A day of raucous celebrations for the co-hosts got even better when Paraguay&#39;s 1-0 win against Turkey confirmed that the US would clinch top spot in Group D, ensuring a theoretically easier draw in the last 32. A Cameron Burgess own goal in the 11th minute and a headed effort from Alex Freeman two minutes before half-time sealed a comfortable three points for Mauricio Pochettino&#39;s USA side, who have won the group with a game to spare. After an unconvincing build-up to the World Cup, the Americans have made a dream start to the tournament with Friday&#39;s victory following a stylish 4-1 demolition of Paraguay in their opener. &quot;It was a fantastic game again, very good first half,&quot; Pochettino said. &quot;I think we dominated the game against a very tough team. &quot;When the draw happened in December I thought it was going to be a really difficult, a really tough game.&quot; In other games on Friday, Brazil took control of their destiny in Group C with a 3-0 victory over Haiti that ended the Caribbean nation&#39;s chances of progressing. Haiti join Turkey in exiting the tournament. Two goals from Matheus Cunha and a Vinicius Junior strike sealed an easy win for the Brazilians in Philadelphia. Brazil are now level on four points with Morocco, but lead the North Africans on goal difference. Morocco secured their first win of the tournament on Friday with a 1-0 defeat of Scotland at Foxborough. Morocco face Haiti in their final Group C game on June 24, while Brazil take on the Scots in Miami.

German National Team Coach Julian Nagelsmann (left) and Jonathan Tah attend the final press conference ahead of the second World Cup group stage match against Ivory Coast. (AFP)

Football

Several teams edge toward knockout qualification as group standings tighten, with co-host success, key player performances, coaching adjustments, and important upcoming matches shaping progression across multiple groups in tournament play.

Germany meet Ivory Coast in high-stakes World Cup clash, Sweden face Dutch

GENEVA: The UN rights chief said on Saturday he deeply regretted the European Union&#39;s new migration rules, which allow much broader detention powers and the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc. The rules, approved on Wednesday, enable the 27 EU nations to open &quot;return hubs&quot; outside the bloc&#39;s borders, where they can send asylum seekers and migrants to whom they do not grant the right to remain. Volker Turk, the United Nations&#39; High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the EU and its member states must ensure the rules fully comply with international human rights and refugee law. &quot;EU states cannot simply outsource their human rights obligations to third states in this context,&quot; he said in a statement. &quot;Detention and return of vulnerable people, including children, to other countries is a particularly sensitive exercise of the state&#39;s power and carries a high risk of human rights violations. &quot;There must be front-and-centre emphasis on human rights protection and dignity throughout -- in fact and in law,&quot; Turk insisted. European governments have sought a tougher stance on immigration, which has become a hot political topic used by far-right parties to make electoral gains across the continent. With asylum seeker arrivals down in 2025, the focus in Brussels has turned to tightening up the repatriation system. &#39;Serious human rights violations&#39;Currently, fewer than 30 percent of people who are ordered to leave are returned to their country of origin. &quot;International human rights law and refugee law are very clear -- no-one should be returned to a place where they would be at risk of serious human rights violations or other irreparable harm,&quot; said Turk. &quot;This is the fundamental principle of non-refoulement. It must be fully respected by all countries and all territories under all circumstances.&quot; He also called for robust monitoring and accountability to ensure full respect for human rights in return procedures, including people&#39;s right to private and family life, to family unity, as well as to protect the best interests of children. &quot;Deportation decisions must always be based on individualised assessments and should not be carried out prior to conclusion of appeal processes,&quot; Turk insisted. Besides return hubs, the new measures establish a strict obligation for migrants subject to expulsion to leave and cooperate with authorities to that end. They say that those who do not, who pose a security risk or are thought to be at risk of absconding, can be detained for up to two years. Turk urged countries to ensure that public discourse on migration &quot;remains grounded in fact&quot; and &quot;avoids conflating migration with security concerns&quot;. Turk called for a balanced approach to migration anchored in human rights, that recognised &quot;the contributions of migrants to European societies and economies&quot;.

Europe

UN rights chief Volker Turk criticizes the European Union’s new migration rules, warning expanded detention powers and offshore deportation centres risk violating international human rights and refugee law while urging protections for vulnerable migrants.

UN rights chief troubled by new EU migrant return rules

Web Desk

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday condemned twin bombings that killed seven people and injured three others in the northwestern district of Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan. The attacks occurred in the Phang Musa Khel area within the jurisdiction of Ahmadzai police station, according to Kashif Nawaz, spokesperson for the Regional Police Office (RPO) Bannu. A passenger pickup vehicle carrying local residents was first targeted with a remotely detonated explosive device, Nawaz told Pakistan TV Digital. The initial blast left several people injured. As the wounded were being transported for medical treatment, a second explosion struck the vehicle carrying the victims. &ldquo;During the transfer of the injured for medical assistance, another explosion occurred targeting the motor vehicle carrying them,&rdquo; Nawaz said in a statement. The two explosions killed seven people and wounded three others, police said. A heavy police contingent was deployed to the area immediately after the attack, while security personnel cordoned off the site and launched a search operation.&nbsp; Police teams are collecting evidence and investigating the incident from multiple angles, Nawaz added. The attack took place in KP where security forces have intensified counterterrorism operations amid a resurgence of militant violence in recent years. President Zardari condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of those killed. According to a statement issued by the President&#39;s Office, Zardari warned against &ldquo;internal and external handlers of terrorism&rdquo; that provide safe havens, logistical support and financial assistance to terrorist groups. He said such groups were seeking to undermine Pakistan&#39;s diplomatic efforts and broader regional peace initiatives. PM Sharif also condemned the bombings and directed authorities to ensure medical treatment for the injured and conduct an immediate investigation. &ldquo;Terrorism is a heinous conspiracy against humanity, peace and stability of Pakistan,&rdquo; Sharif said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. &ldquo;Such cowardly acts can never shake the resolve of the nation,&rdquo; he added. The prime minister vowed that those responsible would be &ldquo;prosecuted&rdquo; and &ldquo;punished to the fullest extent of the law,&rdquo; adding that &ldquo;the blood of martyrs will not go in vain.&rdquo; Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi separately condemned the attack, expressing condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi also sought a detailed report from police authorities and described the loss of innocent civilian lives as deeply tragic. &ldquo;The provincial government will not leave the bereaved families alone in this difficult time,&rdquo; Afridi said, directing authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured.

Security

Seven people were killed and three injured when a passenger vehicle and a second vehicle carrying wounded victims were struck by successive bomb blasts in Bannu, prompting condemnation from Pakistan’s top civilian leadership and an ongoing police investigation.

Pakistan condemns deadly twin bombing in district bordering Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep concern over the demolitions and threats to historic Muslim religious sites in India, including the 1,000-year-old Masjid Ganj Shaheeda in Varanasi. He called on India to immediately stop <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-presidents-calls-for-collective-action-against-hate-speech" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">such actions</a>, warning that they risk leading to the disintegration and perennial chaos of India, according to a post shared on President of Pakistan&rsquo;s X account on Saturday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-6" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2068242820906017104&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d6c6917c3ab2aa32ea524d0a7a20f556dd76cf50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2068242820906017104">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Zardari also urged an immediate halt to these measures and stressed the need to protect minority rights and shared <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-probes-embezzlement-allegations-at-temple-built-on-babri-mosque" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">cultural heritage</a>.&nbsp;Notice for removal of mosque&nbsp;India&rsquo;s Northern Railways&rsquo; Varanasi division has issued a notice directing the removal of Masjid Ganj Shaheeda near Kashi railway station by June 20, according to Indian media.&nbsp;The Anjuman Intizamia Masajid Varanasi, the committee managing the mosque, has called the move &ldquo;illegal&rdquo;. On Thursday, office-bearers of the Anjuman Intizamia met the Varanasi District Magistrate (DM) and submitted a memorandum requesting an inquiry into the documents and details cited by the railways.&nbsp; The committee also urged the administration to issue directions preventing the Railways from carrying out the demolition.&nbsp;No connection with railways land&nbsp;According to Indian media, Joint Secretary of Anjuman Intizamia, SM Yaseen, said: &ldquo;The notice pasted outside the mosque on June 13 by railways administration is illegal since it does not have any date, signature and the stamp. We dismiss the claims by the railways in its notice in the memorandum handed over to the DM today.&rdquo; According to the memorandum submitted to the district magistrate, the committee stated: The mosque &ldquo;Ganj Shaheedan&rdquo; is registered in the Varanasi Municipal Corporation as A 36/4 building.&nbsp; The mosque has no connection with railway land, as mentioned in the counter affidavit in a court case, the memorandum said, according to Indian media.&nbsp;The existence of the mosque is reflected in the map, and the Kashi Railway Station did not exist at that time, it added.

Foreign Affairs

India’s Northern Railways’ Varanasi division has issued a notice directing the removal of Masjid Ganj Shaheeda near Kashi railway station by June 20, according to Indian media.

Pakistan president raises concern over Muslim religious site demolitions in India

Shaharyar Khalid

ISLAMABAD: Imagine waking up one morning to find your child&#39;s social media apps simply do not work. Would you feel happy, sad, or conflicted? You&#39;re likely not alone. Four experts weigh in, yet they cannot agree. Muneeza Zafar, a mental health counsellor, believes banning is a good start. Child psychologist Khubi Khaleeq disagrees. &ldquo;They won&#39;t stop it. They&#39;ll look for a way to hide it better.&rdquo; Meanwhile, Asad Baig, founder and director of Media Matters for Democracy, offers a third path. &ldquo;We should start with educating parents instead of a carpet banning like the UK or Australia.&rdquo; This split reflects a global debate. In December 2025, Australia formally barred under-16s from YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X. Non-compliant companies face fines up to 50 million Australian dollars ($35 million). Britain followed on June 15, 2026, banning Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X for under-16s, with enforcement targeted for spring 2027. Days later, the UAE became the first Arab nation to act. Its cabinet resolution bans under-15s from creating or operating personal social media accounts, giving platforms 12 months to comply. Notably, parental consent cannot override the restriction. France, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Canada are moving in similar directions. &ldquo;Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media makes children unhappy,&rdquo; Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at Downing Street. Baig argues everyone now acknowledges the harm. &ldquo;Mark Zuckerberg apologized to parents after nudity appeared on their daughters&#39; Instagram timelines. Chatbots in the US were involved in harm that resulted in suicide. A California court ruled that platform design itself, not just content, promotes addiction,&rdquo; he says. Clinical psychologist Syeda Aleezah Shah explains how &ldquo;constant exposure causes dopamine loop disruption. Constant notifications trigger short-term reward pathways in a child&#39;s brain, lowering their attention span for real-world tasks.&rdquo; Khaleeq notes that &ldquo;attention span, stress management, social engagement, and exposure to violence are all deteriorating for a child&#39;s personality. But there is always a plus side.&rdquo; Enforcement, however, proves difficult. Research on Australian teens reveals over 60% who had accounts before the ban retained access using printed face masks, borrowed parental IDs, and VPNs. &ldquo;You can literally ask any AI the mechanism to override these things, and it will tell you,&rdquo; Shah notes. Baig warns banning major platforms creates false comfort: &ldquo;Many other platforms like Roblox and PUBG have predators. Banning could promote a false sense of security.&rdquo; Zafar maintains her position. &ldquo;Children under 16 get no substantial benefit from social media that they wouldn&#39;t get through play, family, or exploring,&rdquo; she says. However, Khaleeq counters with how &ldquo;balancing it with strategies that help children accomplish those needs holds the key.&rdquo; While Shah suggests that &ldquo;we must educate parents about cyber safety and security.&rdquo; Baig issues a sharp local warning. &ldquo;Unlike Australia and the UK, we have a diverse society where young entrepreneurs make their livelihood from platforms like Facebook. A ban could be counterproductive. This might not work in Pakistan.&rdquo; Four experts, yet no consensus. As more countries follow Australia and the UK, the real question becomes whether one policy can ever fit every society.

Viral

As governments move to block children from social media, four Pakistani experts offer sharply different answers to a question parents everywhere are asking: Do bans actually work?

To ban or not to ban: Do social media restrictions for minors work?

ISLAMABAD: Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday shared a post about an 18-year-old National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant from Nagpur who discovered his assigned exam centre was not in his city or state, but in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, some 2,500 kilometers away. In a post on X, Gandhi criticized the National Testing Agency (NTA), calling the incident another example of the stress and uncertainty faced by students under the country&#39;s examination system. According to Gandhi, the student&#39;s family lacked the financial means to arrange international travel at such short notice, while the candidate did not even possess a passport, preventing him from appearing in the examination. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2068207232475594802&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4552f8bf0446f0b239920b2415c8709efa13333d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 520px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &quot;How did this even happen?&quot; Gandhi asked, adding that &ldquo;no student should have had any complaint about not being able to reach their center&quot;.&nbsp; &quot;A system that can&#39;t provide a center in a child&#39;s own city but can send them abroad instead&mdash;it has no right to conduct exams,&quot; Gandhi wrote. The criticism continuesAccording to Indian media, the family had opted for Nagpur as their first choice, followed by Wardha and Bhandara, all within Maharashtra.&nbsp; For the original NEET examination as well, he had been assigned to a center in Nagpur. His father, Mohammad Talib, told the media that the boy was so disturbed that he initially refused to appear for the examination at all. The exam, which was earlier conducted on May 3, was cancelled following allegations of irregularities in the examination process. The parody &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; (CJP), a satirical group whose name echoes Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was formed to protest these irregularities in India&#39;s examination system. Led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, the group has staged protests across India demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced criticism from opposition parties and student groups over the handling of several high-profile entrance and recruitment exams. &quot;Stop gambling with our children&#39;s future. They deserve a sensitive, responsible, and accountable education system and exam authority,&quot; Gandhi concluded. After receiving complaints, the NTA acknowledged its mistake, saying it was a technological error and assigned the candidate a centre in Nagpur. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2068208339667001370&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4552f8bf0446f0b239920b2415c8709efa13333d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 930px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>

FILE: Rahul Gandhi speaks to the media in Delhi on Saturday, a day after being disqualified from parliament (AFP)

India

According to Rahul Gandhi, the student's family lack the financial means to arrange international travel at such short notice, while the candidate do not even possess a passport, preventing him from appearing in the examination.

Indian opposition leader slams exam authority after student gets UAE test center

NEW DELHI: Indian police are investigating allegations of embezzlement at a temple in the country&#39;s north that has been a focal point of Prime Minster Narendra Modi&#39;s Hindu-first politics, a top state official said Friday. The Ram Mandir temple in Uttar Pradesh state, built on grounds where <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bjps-social-media-post-on-babri-masjid-highlights-antimuslim-bias" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Babri mosque</a> stood for centuries before being torn down by Hindu zealots, was inaugurated in 2024 with great fanfare by Modi himself.&nbsp;Cash syphoned of&nbsp;Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Y<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/outrage-after-hindutva-goons-threaten-to-demolish-delhis-jama-masjid" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">ogi Adityanath</a> said that a Special Investigations Team (SIT) had been set up to look into alleged syphoning of cash offerings made by devotees. &quot;We have set up an SIT inquiry on the recommendation of the trust&quot; the administers the temple, said Adityanath, a firebrand Hindu monk, at a public function. &quot;If anyone has any documentary proof, please provide it to the SIT,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Over $20MThe scale of the alleged embezzlement is unclear but opposition parties and local media reports say it could amount to more than $20 million. The construction of the temple cost an estimated $240 million, all of which was sourced entirely from public donations, according to the project&#39;s backers. According to The Indian Express newspaper, daily offerings from devotees, average around $10,000, going up to $60,000 on auspicious days. Devout Hindus believe that the god Ram was born in the town of Ayodhya -- home to the temple -- more than 7,000 years ago, but that the Babri mosque was built over his birthplace by a 16th-century Muslim emperor.&nbsp;Mosque&rsquo;s demolition&nbsp;India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party -- then in the opposition -- played an instrumental role in public campaigning that eventually led to the mosque&#39;s demolition in 1992. The destruction helped propel the party, and eventually Modi, as unstoppable electoral juggernauts, displacing the secularist Congress party that had governed India almost without interruption since independence from Britain.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says a Special Investigations Team has been set up to look into alleged syphoning of cash offerings made by devotees.

India probes embezzlement allegations at temple built on Babri mosque

ISLAMABAD: Heavy security arrangements have been put in place across India&rsquo;s capital on Saturday ahead of the &ldquo;Cockroach Janta Party&#39;s&rdquo; second protest at Jantar Mantar, with police deploying extensive surveillance and crowd-control measures to maintain law and order, according to India media. India&#39;s &ldquo;Cockroach Janta Party&rdquo; (CJP) has held successful and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indias-cockroach-party-to-gather-in-amritsar-for-protest-over-education-policy-concerns" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">peaceful protests</a>&nbsp;in Lucknow, Delhi, Pune and Amritsar demanding the resignation of Education Minister <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indias-cockroach-party-founder-arrives-in-lucknow-joins-protest-demanding-ministers-resignation" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dharmendra Pradhan</a>.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2068167961328635952&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d6c6917c3ab2aa32ea524d0a7a20f556dd76cf50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 801px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2068167961328635952">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Paper leaks&nbsp;The CJP held its first major street protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling for Pradhan&#39;s resignation over major exam irregularities, including question paper leaks. The demonstration, led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, is scheduled to begin at 1 pm after authorities granted permission for the gathering.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2067653739344015654&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d6c6917c3ab2aa32ea524d0a7a20f556dd76cf50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 801px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2067653739344015654">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Supporters are expected to arrive from different parts of Delhi and neighboring states. The protest stems from the CJP&#39;s evolution from a satirical online campaign launched after remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a court hearing last month.&nbsp;Social media traction&nbsp;The movement has since grown into an organized protest platform with significant social media traction. Multiple layers of barricades were erected around Jantar Mantar in Delhi and adjoining roads, while vehicles were checked at key entry and exit points across the city. Senior police officers were assigned field duties and reserve forces remained on standby, according to Indian media. Security was tightened at major transport hubs, including the airport, railway stations, interstate bus terminals and border points. Traffic diversions were planned in parts of central Delhi, though metro services continued normally.

The ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ earlier held its first major street protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling for Pradhan's resignation over major exam irregularities, including question paper leaks.

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