Capitol Riot - capitol-riot.comOct 09, 2025 12:30 IST
Farmers in Sindh’s Badin and Sujawal districts have launched significant protests and road blockades, demanding action against rice millers and traders accused of manipulating paddy prices to the detriment of growers, reports 24brussels.
In Badin, hundreds of farmers obstructed the Thar Coal-Karachi highway, impacting major routes between Karachi, Hyderabad, and Tharparkar. Leaders of the protests, supported by political and religious representatives, asserted that rice millers had conspired to slash paddy prices from Rs3,200-3,400 per maund to a mere Rs2,300. Additionally, they alleged that mill owners were shortchanging farmers by recording 43 kilograms as one maund instead of the standard 40 kg.
Protesters are calling for the Sindh High Court chief justice and the chief minister to establish a minimum official rate of Rs3,400 per maund to ensure fair compensation for growers. The demonstrations concluded after Assistant Commissioner Rajesh Dilpat assured the farmers that their complaints would be escalated to higher authorities.
Meanwhile, in Sujawal, members of the Zameendar Action Forum conducted a complete shutdown strike and organized a sit-in in Jati town, voicing similar concerns over exploitation. They emphasized their commitment to continue advocating for fair pricing, according to reports. The ongoing crisis is largely attributed to mismanagement by the provincial food department, which neglected to procure wheat during its peak availability in March and April in favor of clearing nearly 800,000 bags of outdated stock. Although officials claimed this was intended to prevent wastage, the decision had dire repercussions, leading to financial losses exceeding Pakistani Rupees 6 billion as the price of wheat escalated.
In the last three weeks, flour prices have continued to rise sharply, causing panic buying and hoarding among consumers, resulting in significant pressure on household budgets. A shopkeeper in Quetta remarked that in his three decades of business, he had “never seen flour prices cross Pakistani Rupee 2,000 per bag,” highlighting the gravity of the situation as families are now compelled to reduce their meal portions.
Apple faces mounting criticism after the removal of the ICE-spotting app, ICEBlock, from its App Store, with a former executive branding the decision as an “erosion” of the company’s core principles, reports 24brussels.
Wiley Hodges, who worked at Apple for over 22 years, expressed his concerns in a letter to CEO Tim Cook, stating he is “deeply disturbed” by the company’s decision. The removal occurs amidst pressure from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who claims that “ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs.” Following Apple’s action, Google also removed similar applications, although it reportedly did not receive specific directives from the Department of Justice.
Hodges, who held prominent roles in marketing and product management at Apple, further elaborated on his changing perception of the company. He stated, “I used to believe that Apple were unequivocally ‘the good guys,’” adding that he now questions the company’s commitment to its users. Hodges also highlighted that the earlier defense of user privacy, exemplified by Apple’s stand against unlocking iPhones for the San Bernardino case, was a pivotal moment in shaping public trust.
He critiques the recent decision as a departure from Apple’s previously espoused values, specifically citing the company’s Human Rights Policy that asserts its commitment to an open society, even in the face of governmental pressures. “The removal of ICEBlock without evidence of the government either providing a lawful basis for such a demand or following a legal process represents an erosion of this principled stance,” Hodges noted.
In a parallel reaction, Alex Horovitz, another former Apple senior manager, echoed Hodges’s sentiments in his own letter, stating that Apple must resist political pressures that compromise its foundational values. “Every time it yields quietly to political pressure, it strengthens the hand of those who would centralize power and weaken the freedoms the company once championed,” he remarked.
Both former executives are demanding transparency from Apple regarding the decision to remove ICEBlock and whether any legal grounds justified the government’s demands. Hodges concluded his letter with a stark warning: “I hope you recognize how every inch you voluntarily give to an authoritarian regime adds to their illegitimately derived power.”
Attempts by The Verge to obtain comment from Apple went unanswered.