Chitral News

Tag: international.

  • International Tableeghi Ijtima Begins in Chitral

    International Tableeghi Ijtima Begins in Chitral

    Three day International Tableeghi Ijtima has begun  in Chitral town this evening. The Chitral polo ground has been set for the large expected gathering.

    Chumarkhan photo

    The Tablighi Jamaat is arguably the largest grassroots Islamic movement today, present in over 150 countries. Its global headquarters (markaz) in Raiwind, near Lahore, and its second major center in Tongi, Bangladesh, host annual gatherings that can draw up to around two million people each. Many Muslims, locally and internationally, are drawn to its organized trips (khuruj) because they experience spiritual peace, brotherhood, and a sense of purpose while stepping away from daily routines.

    The movement’s core emphasis is on reviving religious practice: regular prayers, mosque attendance, remembrance of Allah, and following the Prophet’s example in rituals and personal devotion. Preaching usually revolves around the “Six Points,” which focus on faith, salat, knowledge, honoring fellow Muslims, sincerity, and time for dawah. This ritual-centered approach has helped Tablighi Jamaat grow rapidly, especially in Pakistan, where its influence is deeply embedded in mosques and neighborhoods.

    However, a common observation is that sermons often place little explicit stress on ethical character as a precondition of true faith-on being a good human being before being labeled a devout Muslim. There is relatively less focus on honesty, fairness, kindness to others, protection of others’ rights, and living as a blessing to all of Allah’s creation.

    If, even for one year, the movement were to make truthfulness a central theme- repeatedly reminding Muslims to avoid lying and highlighting the Quranic warning, “Allah’s curse be upon the liars” (Surah Al Imran, Ayat 61)-it could transform everyday life conduct across Muslim societies.

    Such a shift, prioritizing daily character over ritual alone, might improve trust in markets, homes, and public life in Pakistan and beyond, and arguably would be more transformative than a hundred years of preaching focused only on prayers and outward religious forms while ignoring or under rating character building in daily lives. .. CN report, 20 Sep 2026

  • International botanists? moot ends in Chitral

    Organised by the Chitral University the conference was participated by botanists of national and international repute who read out their papers on the subject and imparted training to the teachers of the university.

    Addressing the concluding ceremony, noted botanist Dr Mary Elizabeth Barkworth of Utah University of USA said it was a landmark day in the history as the work on digitisation of the plant species was being started in an obscure and remote area known by very few people about its geography.

    She said the assembly of the plant documentation specialists in the conference would have far-reaching results on the future of research on the plant species in the area making Chitral ?the paradise of botanists? on the basis of its rich variety.

    She appreciated the quality of all the 44 papers read out on the occasion, most of which were about the endemic species of plants found nowhere in the world, and many would lead to brainstorming of the young botanists thus, widening the base of research.

    On the occasion, the project director of the university, Dr Badshah Munir Bukhari, said the conference was unique in many respects as it had been opened to botanists throughout the world online making possible their active interaction.

    He said the varsity would organise a number of national and international conferences during the current academic year.

    PROTEST THREATENED: The elders of Torkhow tehsil have threatened to come onto the roads if the provincial government did not restart work on the federally-funded Booni-Torkhow road by April 15, which was abandoned by communications and works department six months ago despite the centre had released funds to this effect.

    Addressing a press conference on Saturday, they complained that launched 10 years ago, the progress on the project was going at snail?s pace.

    They said the landowners were awaiting compensation as their agricultural lands and fruit orchards were acquired for the project.

    The elders accused the Chitral deputy commissioner of keeping the amount of Rs67 million in his account instead of disbursing it to the landowners. They also alleged that the deputy commissioner mistreated the local bodies? representatives when they met him to apprise him about the delay in the project.

    Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2018