Women showcase tech skills at WTQ

KARACHI  –  More than 1200 women in technology from across Pakistan competed, learned, networked and showcased their tech talents at the 8th edition of Women Tech Quest (WTQ), a statement said on Sunday. WTQ, an initiative of 10Pearls University, is a platform for women to evaluate and display their tech skills, gain recognition, and win cash prizes and exposure. It also features speaker sessions and workshops by accomplished female professionals who share their insights and experiences to inspire and guide aspiring tech women.

The competition, which has been running since 2017, has recently expanded to Costa Rica, Latin America, as part of its global outreach. This move reflects its dedication to fostering innovation and diversity, and providing women with opportunities to excel in the field of technology.

“This marks our 8th consecutive year of successfully hosting Women Tech Quest. As one of our flagship initiatives for women’s empowerment, WTQ has initiated and propelled the careers of over 6000 women, bolstered Pakistan’s talent pool, and provided women with a platform to enhance their visibility,” said Syeda Sana Hussain, Head of People & Programs – EMEA at 10Pearls.

The competition consisted of three categories: Coding, Testing, and Design. In each category, there were two levels: Professional and Student. The participants had to solve a series of problems, assess their database and automation skills, or address a UI/UX challenge, depending on their chosen category.

Each city produced six winners, resulting in 18 winners in total. The winners were awarded cash prizes and shields, while all participants received swag kits and certificates of participation.

Source: The Nation

Acid Attack on School Teacher in Lahore

On January 9, a 22-year-old female school teacher was injured in an acid attack in the Shahdara Town area of Lahore over the refusal of a marriage proposal. 

On the day of the incident, she along with her brother was en route to school when the suspects, identified as Umar Farooq and Ghulam Mustafa, approached and threw acid on the victim.

She received serious burn injuries and was admitted to the hospital. The suspects fled the scene but Farooq — the prime suspect — was arrested later.

Source: The Nation

Teacher throws acid on female student in Karachi

KARACHI  –  A female student came under an acid attack near Karachi’s Nipa Chowrangi area after her teacher attacked her due to a heated argument, police said on Sunday. The teacher, identified as Iftikhar, attacked her student inside an IT centre near Nipa Chowrangi after which he was taken into custody.

The victim, Alisha, along with her two uncles Noman and Faizan sustained burn injuries and the three have been shifted to Civil Hospital’s burns ward, added the police.

According to law enforcement officials, a case has been registered at Aziz Bhatti Police Station on the complaint of the victim’s maternal uncle Noman.

The first information report (FIR) said: “My niece had gone to take her IT certificate and Iftikhar and Arshad misbehaved with her in the centre.”

The FIR added that the victim then went back home and complained to her uncles about the incident after which the uncles — Noman and Faizan — had gone along with her to the coaching centre.

“Iftikhar and Waqar got angry at the coaching centre and the former took out acid from his pocket and threw it at us,” he added.

Source: The Nation

Honour Killing Shock: Brothers Shoot Sister in D.I. Khan, Conceal Crime with Fake Funeral

In a shocking incident in the Dera Ismail Khan area, two brothers perpetrated an honor killing, shooting and killing their sister, Shaheen Bibi.

The brothers, Shakeel and Aqeel, went to great lengths to conceal their crime by orchestrating a fake funeral for their sister. The police, now aware of the incident, have initiated an investigation and registered a murder case against the accused brothers.

The Station House Officer (SHO) Samar Abbas submitted a report to the Paharpur police station, detailing the heinous crime committed by Shakeel and Aqeel. According to the report, on February 20, 2024, the brothers fatally shot Shaheen Bibi in the name of honor. Subsequently, they feigned a regular funeral, deceiving the community and burying their sister under the guise of a divine death.

The area was soon rife with speculation about the circumstances of Shaheen’s demise, prompting the police to launch an immediate investigation. As the probe unfolded, it was revealed that Shaheen had been divorced by her husband, Javed Baloch, on February 18, citing misconduct.

Following the divorce, Shaheen Bibi returned to her father’s house, where her brothers, Shakeel and Aqeel, conspired to commit the gruesome act. On February 20, 2024, at 1 pm, Shaheen was in her father’s room when the accused brothers entered and shot her.

To cover up their heinous act, the brothers, along with their father Sharif, presented Shaheen’s death as occurring in the morning and arranged for a hasty funeral. The suspects have been apprehended, and they have confessed to the chilling crime.

Source: Tribal News Network