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ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The killing of Ismail Haniyeh, chief political leader of Hamas and former prime minister of Palestine, in Iran attracted strong reaction from almost all political and religious parties on Wednesday which condemned the “barbaric approach” of Israel, denounced the world powers support to Zionist state and questioned the silence of Muslim rulers.
As the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) sit-in at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh entered the sixth day, all activities of the day were suspended to mourn the assassination. The party also suspended its activities in Karachi, including the sit-in planned to be staged outside Governor House.
JI emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, led the funeral prayer in absentia of the Hamas leader, on Liaquat Road. It was also attended by the delegation of Palestinian embassy in Pakistan.
Funeral prayers for Haniyeh were also offered in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta on the call of the JI chief. Besides, the JUI-F held the funeral of the leader in absentia in Larkana.
In Rawalpindi, Mufti Gulzar Naimi, Allama Arif Wahidi, Nasir Abbas Sherazi paid tribute to the assassinated Hamas leader and condemned the Israeli attack. They said the Zionist state was even being ridiculed by the people in the West.
Palestine Foundation Pakistan and ISO’s Karachi division staged a joint rally condemning Israel for the assassination. Patronage Committee members of Palestine Foundation Pakistan including Dr Sabir Abu Maryam, leaders of JI, MWM, JUP, PTI, PML-N, Awami Tehreek, Human Rights Council, Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith, Pastor Daniel Siraj and others attended the rally.
Also, the MQM-P condemned the “Zionist regime of Israel”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday approved a cut in the prices of petrol by Rs6.17 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs10.86, respectively, for the next fortnight.
State broadcaster PTV posted a statement on X saying that the new petrol price was now Rs269.43 and that of HSD was Rs272.77.
It added that the price of kerosene oil was also reduced to Rs177.39 by a Rs6.32 cut while light diesel oil was now Rs160.53 after a Rs5.72 cut.
Instead of a notification from the Finance Division, PTV posted the summary of the price changes for the prime minister’s approval.
The cuts in petrol and HSD prices are higher than previously estimated. After two consecutive increases, the prices were estimated to decline by about Rs3 and Rs8.50 per litre, respectively, from August 1 for the next fortnight, mainly because of lower international market and import premiums.
Informed sources had said the prices of these major products had decreased in the international market by about $2 and $3 per barrel, respectively, in the last fortnight.
Depending on the final calculation and existing tax rates, the price of petrol was projected to fall by Rs2.9 and that of HSD by Rs8.50 per litre.
Officials said the average price of petrol had dropped in the international market to $87.5 from $89.5 per barrel. HSD also declined to $94 from about $96.93 in the last fortnight.
During the current fortnight, the import premium on both products has also declined. It dropped to $8.8 from $9 on petrol and to $5 from $6.5 per barrel on HSD. On the other hand, the exchange rate movement remained range-bound during the fortnight.
The government has jacked up the maximum limit of petroleum levy to Rs70 per litre in the current Finance Bill to collect Rs1.28 trillion in the next fiscal year against Rs960 billion collected during the last fiscal year, almost Rs91bn higher than the Rs869bn budget target.
The petrol and HSD prices had increased by Rs7.45 and Rs9.56 per litre on June 30. This was followed by Rs9.99 and Rs6.18 per litre increase in prices of petrol and HSD, respectively, on July 16. As such, petrol and diesel rates cumulatively went up by Rs17.44 and Rs15.74 per litre, respectively during the current month.
Between May 1 and June 15, the prices of both products were reduced by about Rs35 and Rs22 per litre, respectively.
The government charges about Rs78 per litre tax on both petrol and HSD. Although GST is zero on all petroleum products, the government charges a Rs60 per litre petroleum development levy on both products which normally impacts the masses.
QUETTA: Amid a lingering stalemate and exchange of blame, lawmakers from both sides of the political divide in the Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday called upon the government and the leadership of Gwadar protests to resolve all issues through negotiations in a democratic manner.
The situation in the port city of Gwadar has been tense since Saturday, with the protesters and authorities blaming each other for the violence that has led to casualties on both sides. On Monday, the military said a soldier was martyred and 16 other security personnel, including an officer, were injured in firing by “an unruly mob” in Gwadar during clashes between the forces and supporters of the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC).
However, BYC leader Dr Mahrang Baloch claimed that hundreds of their supporters had been arrested over the past two days.
Taking part in a debate on the matter, BNP-Awami President Mir Asadullah Baloch questioned the state of democracy, where people are barred from holding meetings. He said the protesters are unarmed, and the government should refrain from using force.
Government urged to refrain from using force against Gwadar protesters
He criticised the use of containers and violence against people, asking what has been achieved.
He lamented that wrong policies have led to the country’s global defamation.
Mr Baloch said arms are meant for the enemy, not for the people, adding that the entire world is watching Gwadar, and every Baloch household has a martyr, leading to widespread resentment and people joining the armed resistance. He said negotiations should be held with Dr Mahrang to address the prevailing situation.
National Party’s Khair Jan Baloch said his party supports the right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in the Constitution, and condemns all forms of violence that foster hatred. He emphasised that the solution to Balochistan’s crisis requires collective effort.
The government must address the underlying issues, as failure to engage the youth constructively will exacerbate the situation, he said, adding that for a lasting peace, the province should be governed through political means, rather than force.
PPP lawmaker Meena Majeed emphasised that freedom of expression does not entitle individuals to speak on behalf of others while disrespecting them. She strongly condemned the use of derogatory language against Baloch women, saying it’s a violation of Balochistan’s values. She urged all members of the assembly to take a stand and not remain silent spectators in the face of such injustices.
Opposition leader Mir Younis Aziz Zehri condemned the politics of hatred, emphasising that resolving Balochistan’s issues requires a choice between violence and negotiations. He stressed that negotiations are the only viable solution, and urged the government to engage in democratic negotiations and release arrested individuals as a goodwill gesture.
Provincial Minister for Irrigation Mir Sadiq Umrani said the PPP stands firmly against terrorism, extending an invitation to the opposition and protesters to join hands in contributing to Pakistan’s development and prosperity. He condemned the anti-Pakistan slogans raised in Gwadar, reaffirming the PPP’s commitment to finding solutions through dialogue.
MPA Maulana Hidyatur Rehman said Gwadar is currently facing turmoil. He strongly condemned the shooting of women, resulting in three casualties. “We condemn the killings, regardless of whether they are committed by the government or the Baloch Liberation Army,” the Maulana said.
He said the chief minister had announced that highways would remain open, but the next day containers were placed on all highways across Balochistan. He lamented that the use of force has turned Balochistan into a graveyard, with a curfew in place in Gwadar. “We will protect CPEC, but it cannot be protected by bullets.”
MPA Mir Zabid Ali Reki proposed forming a committee consisting of respected tribal elders to facilitate negotiations as only dialogue can resolve issues. He called for releasing all detainees and suggested shutting down social media, which he blamed for disrupting the system.
Kalsoom Niaz of the National Party questioned the ban on gatherings in Gwadar, contrasting it with the allowance of similar events in Islamabad. She criticised the provincial government’s complete lockdown, leading to food shortages, and demanded the release of all arrested individuals.
Ms Niaz emphasised the importance of peaceful politics and resolving Balochistan’s issues through dialogue to eliminate the culture of violence.
BAP lawmaker Farah Azim Shah observed that protests often erupt whenever Balochistan makes progress. “Slogans against our institutions and government were raised in Gwadar.”
The assembly session was adjourned until Thursday afternoon.
MANSEHRA: A pick-up van is stuck in flood waters gushing down a street in Kaghan Valley’s Paras bazaar, on Tuesday.—Dawn
• 22 deaths reported; torrents wash away bridges, houses across province
• Three killed in Sindh; PM, NDMA chief discuss rescue efforts
PESHAWAR/KARACHI: At least 22 persons, including 10 from a single family, were killed, with several reportedly injured in accidents caused by heavy rains across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.
Heavy rains, which have been battering the province for the past couple of days, triggered landslides and flash flooding in many areas.
In Bazikhel area of Darra Adam Khel, Kohat, 10 members of a family were killed when rainwater inundated the basement of their home where they were sleeping early on Tuesday.
The victims included three women, three men and four children.
A Rescue 1122 spokesperson told Dawn the basement was filled with water when rescue teams arrived at the site.
Rescuers entered the home after demolishing the front wall and pumped out the water from the basement. However, no survivors were found. They belonged to the old Bazi Khel tribe of Darra Adam Khel.
Casualties were also reported from other parts of KP, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) data and reports by Dawn correspondents.
Two people each were killed in Mansehra, Lower Chitral, Bajaur, Charsadda and Lower Dir, while one person each lost their lives in Haripur and Hangu districts.
Two men died in Lower Chitral after being caught in gushing floodwater. In the Khurzg village of Yarkhoon sub-valley of Upper Chitral, villagers managed to rescue two minors who had drowned in a stream flowing in a high flood state.
Around 16 homes were washed away by the flash flood that ravaged the Golen Valley in Lower Chitral. In the nearby Mori Bala village, four houses and a mosque were destroyed.
In Brep, Khuz, Dizg and Khruzg villages of Upper Chitral, several houses were damaged, leaving 63 families homeless.
The Reshun village on the left bank of Chitral river was also devastated by a flash flood in the stream flowing through its centre. The village is also eroding as the river has been swelling due to excess water flow.
A 108-megawatt hydropower station on the Golen Gol stream has also been closed, leaving Lower and Upper Chitral districts without electricity.
In Mansehra, a woman and her son were swept away in flood water. According to Kaghan police, the victim and her 14-year-old son were washed away in the Manor stream. A search for their bodies couldn’t be started because of flooding in the tributary.
The gushing water also washed away Mahandri bazaar — which was also destroyed in the 2022 floods — and houses in the neighbouring Manor valley.
Torrential downpour, which continued in parts of Lower Dir district for more than three hours late on Monday night, flooded streams and increased the water level in the Panjkora River.
Two minors were killed in the Bosta village of Miskini Dara after a mudslide hit a house on Tuesday, according to locals.
The bodies of victims, Hameedullah, 8, and Junaidullah, 5, were retrieved from the debris by locals.
In Bajaur, a woman and her daughter were killed and two children wounded after their house collapsed due to heavy rain in Mamund tehsil, according to locals and Rescue 1122 officials.
The family members of Maroof Khan were sleeping in the same room of their house in the hilly area of Wara Kharki when the accident occurred.
In Charsadda, two youths drowned while swimming in the Jindi river, while a man died after being buried under the collapsed roof of his home in village council Baka.
Heavy rains also continued in Swabi, Mardan, Lower South Waziristan and Abbottabad districts; however, no casualties were reported from there.
Tourists stuck in Kaghan
Thousands of tourists have also been stranded in the Kaghan Valley after a bridge on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road in Mahandri area was washed away.
Hotels in the area are providing free room service for tourists to spend the night, Seth Matiullah, the president of hoteliers association in Kaghan told a press conference on Tuesday.
Tourists have been stopped from entering the Kaghan Valley, District Police Officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told the media. He added that stranded tourists are being guided to leave the area via Chilas, Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to Deputy Commissioner Adnan Khan Battani, the National Highway Authority and other relevant departments have been directed to early rehabilitation of the bridge at the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road.
Three dead in Sindh
Several districts of Sindh also received moderate to light rainfall on Tuesday, with three casualties reported in rain-related incidents.
In Karachi, a 22-year-old and a 16-year-old were electrocuted in New Karachi and Jamshed Quarters. In Nawabshah, a man was critically injured after being hit by a lightning strike. He later died in the hospital.
Disaster preparedness
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to take all necessary measures to protect lives and properties during monsoon rains.
While talking to NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik over the phone, PM Shehbaz called for improved coordination with provincial disaster management authorities.
The PM also ordered expedited measures for the restoration of highways and roads affected by rains and land sliding.
The NDMA held a meeting of its National Disaster Response Committee (DRC) on Tuesday.
The meeting assessed the arrangements put in place by provinces and departments to deal with the rainfall.
The meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and NDMA chairman, was also attended by PM’s Coordinator for Climate Change Romina Khursheed, according to a news release.
The officials of National Emergencies Operations Center and provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs) briefed the meeting on the ongoing rescue efforts.
• Lays down three preconditions, including return of PTI’s ‘stolen mandate’
• Urges military to nominate its representatives for talks, says Achakzai will represent them
• Voices support for JI’s stance on soaring utility bills, backs Baloch activists’ protest
• Marriyum says ‘self-proclaimed revolutionary’ now pleading for talks with army
• Tarar labels Imran’s call ‘a conspiracy’
ISLAMABAD: After days of speculation about a possible softening of his stance against the establishment, incarcerated former PM Imran Khan categorically said on Tuesday that his party was ready for talks with the military establishment.
Speaking to reporters at Adiala jail, the PTI founder laid down three preconditions: the return of his party’s ‘stolen mandate’, the release of all detained party workers and the holding of transparent elections.
Last week, Mr Khan had raised eyebrows when he tasked his sister Aleema and party leader Omar Ayub with ‘conveying messages’ to army chief Gen Asim Munir, asking him to ‘remain neutral’.
The duo had, in their remarks to the media, passed on Mr Khan’s warning that the Shehbaz government was trying to pit the army, PTI and the public against each other.
This had come as a surprise, as both Mr Khan and the party had been quite critical of the army chief and the military up to that point, especially in the wake of the arrest of party spokesperson Raoof Hasan and other social media activists over allegations of ‘digital terrorism’.
On Tuesday, Mr Khan said the country could be rescued from the ongoing crisis with a government that would come into power through free and fair elections.
Saying that Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s proposal to resign from the assemblies was one of the options, he made it clear that this contingency would be considered at the appropriate juncture.
He said the party had already nominated Mehmood Khan Achakzai — who leads the opposition alliance known as the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) — to negotiate on their behalf, and urged the military to nominate their representatives for talks.
Claiming that his party had never levelled allegations against the army, he said that even a spoilt child was liable to criticism.
He recalled that Gen Ziaul Haq was behind the judicial murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, while Gen Yahya Khan was responsible for the fall of Dhaka.
Mr Khan also endorsed the stance taken by the Jamaat-i-Islami over an unprecedented hike in utility bills and also voiced support for Baloch activists, protesting for the recovery of missing persons.
Govt reaction
But the government did not take kindly to Mr Khan changing his tune and accused the PTI founder of pleading for talks with the army chief.
“The self-proclaimed revolutionary who used to say that he won’t ask for forgiveness, has come down to pleading to the armed forces to talk to him,” Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement.
She advised the former prime minister to tender an apology rather than seek an opportunity for talks, adding that his supporters had damaged statues of the army martyrs, attacked GHQ and an air base and torched the home of the Lahore corps commander.
“Seek forgiveness from the families of the martyrs for the sins of May 9 [attacks],” she said, adding the martyrs memorials were desecrated as part of an organised plan.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Atta Tarar termed Imran Khan’s call another conspiracy against the country, terming it another attempt by the PTI founder to drag state institutions into his “dirty politics”.
He wondered how Mr Khan changed his own stance on the concept of the neutrality of the institutions, saying that he went from his earlier stance of ‘I won’t let go’ to ‘Please talk to me’ quite quickly.
Mr Tarar believed that the call for talks was made as the PTI founder feared stern action against himself and his party, after the raid on their social media cell.
Both he and Ms Aurangzeb also lashed out at the former PM for the political victimisation of members of the Sharif family, with the former calling him a ‘brat’ and the latter branding him a ‘fascist’ who violates the Constitution for personal power.
Rights organisation Amnesty International on Tuesday demanded “an end to the brutal crackdown on the Baloch protests” and said that the arrest of organisers was “extremely concerning and indicative of the continuing decline in civil and political rights in Pakistan”.
At least three people died and several were injured after participants of the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC) protest clashed with security personnel in different areas of the province a day ago. Despite roadblocks put in place by the authorities, a large number of people managed to make their way from across the province to Gwadar’s Marine Drive for the Baloch Raji Muchi (Baloch national gathering).
On Monday, the military said a soldier was martyred and 16 other security personnel, including an officer, were injured in firing by “an unruly mob” in Gwadar during clashes between the forces and supporters of the BYC. On the other hand, BYC leader Dr Mahrang Baloch claimed hundreds of their supporters had been arrested over the past two days.
According to the latest reports emerging from the area, which is under a road and communications blockade, participants of the Baloch Raji Muchi are still present in Gwadar.
Security forces launched a crackdown after the clashes to disperse the participants of a sit-in organised by the BYC on Marine Drive, officials had said. The local administration had claimed that the situation was becoming normal, adding that police had arrested over two dozen protesters during the crackdown against the participants of the sit-in which began on Sunday evening after the end of the Baloch Raji Muchi.
Earlier today, the BYC alleged that in Monday’s “ violent crackdown“, the Counter-Terrorism Department had “forcibly abducted BYC leaders along with other participants”.
It added that “those abducted include Sammi Deen Baloch, Dr Sabiha Baloch and Sibghat Abdul Haq Baloch. Their abduction was witnessed by thousands of peaceful protestors. Before abducting them, the forces beat and tortured them, then dragged them to their vehicles. Bearing baton charges, their conditions deteriorated.”
In light of the situation, Amnesty called for an end to the clampdown and urged the immediate release of the organisers.
“The reports of three deaths and the arrest of organisers, including Sammi Deen Baloch, Sabghatullah Shah and Dr Sabiha Baloch, are extremely concerning and indicative of the continuing decline in civil and political rights in Pakistan,” the group said in its statement.
“Amnesty International calls for an end to the brutal crackdown on the Baloch protests and the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested for exercising their right of peaceful assembly.”
It added that whenever Baloch protests occurred, they were met with “violence from security forces” along with “mass arrests.”
“We saw it in December last year at the Baloch Long March,” it added.
“We see it now again with the Baloch Raji Muchi protests in what is clearly a punitive attempt by the Pakistani authorities to deter, vilify, and criminalise peaceful protesters.”
It further added that roadblocks and shutdown of internet and mobile networks in districts across Balochistan province had restricted movement and the flow of “timely information”.
It said that, under the Constitution and international human rights law, the government was obligated “to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, movement, and peaceful assembly”.
Amnesty said it had previously documented the crackdown on the “Baloch Long March which demonstrated a pattern of repressive interventions against those exercising the right to protest such as the use by police of unlawful violence and the arbitrary arrest and detention of protesters”.
In a later statement, the BYC said Dr Sabiha was released today following “public pressure and resistance”.
“However, we still have no information about Sammi Deen Baloch and Sabghatullah Baloch. They have been out of contact since yesterday morning. Additionally, more than 200 participants have been arrested from the Gwadar sit-in, and we have no information about them either,” it added.
The BYC demanded the “state and all its institutions to immediately release all the arrested colleagues, including our leadership, without any ifs and buts, restore internet and mobile network throughout Makran, including Gwadar and in all areas of Balochistan. Completely remove obstacles in front of all our convoys stopped at gunpoint by force. If the state and its institutions still do not change their … behaviour, then from today we will shut down the entire Balochistan, including Quetta, for an indefinite period and if any untoward incident occurs during this period, then all the responsibility will be on the state and it will be imposed on its institutions.”
CARACAS: Streets were largely empty in towns and cities across Venezuela and opposition supporters were subdued on Monday after President Nicolas Maduro and opposition rival Edmundo Gonzalez both claimed victory in a tense weekend election.
Few businesses were open and public transport was scarce, as governments in Washington and elsewhere cast doubt on official results that kept the incumbent Maduro in power and called for a full tabulation of votes.
The national electoral authority said just after midnight that Maduro had won a third term with 51 per cent of the vote — a result that would extend a quarter-century of socialist rule.
But independent exit polls pointed to a big opposition win following enthusiastic shows of support for Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Gonzalez has not called for supporters to take to the streets and has warned against violence, even as reports trickled in of arrests and intimidation of his supporters.
US President Joe Biden’s administration accused Venezuela of electoral manipulation and repression and said Caracas’ announcement that President Nicolas Maduro had won a third term in office had been stripped of “any credibility.”
Russia, China, Cuba, Honduras and Bolivia cheered Maduro’s alleged victory.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and nine Latin American countries — Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay — called for a “complete review” of the results.
Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino said his country will pull its diplomats out of Venezuela and suspend diplomatic ties.
LONDON: New footage has surfaced showing the alleged assault of three police officers at Manchester airport, followed by an officer kicking a man in the head.
The chaotic scenes, captured in the video obtained by the Manchester Evening News, depict an officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man lying face down on the floor.
A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer was suspended after the video was widely shared on social media, sparking protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced that the officer is now under criminal investigation for assault.
The next steps involve determining whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service and deciding if the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told Sky News that it was a complicated situation, a very violent situation, actually, and there were issues on both sides. Simply nobody out there — everyone who’s having their say — nobody has got all of the facts. He urged the public to avoid rushing to conclusions due to the complexity of the situation.
As the investigation continues, police have appealed for witnesses to upload information, images, or footage to a public portal. The first incident is an altercation between passengers from Qatar Airways flight QR023, which arrived at 7:20pm. The altercation may have taken place during the flight or afterwards in the T2 baggage hall, the police said.
The second incident is a violent altercation involving members of the public in T2 Starbucks at around 8:22pm. The Sun newspaper reported there are “shocking” videos showing a cop being put in a chokehold and an officer being left with a broken nose. It also said a male passenger allegedly pushed his trolley into Fahir and Amaad’s mum, according to a source. Then at 8:22pm, the woman met her sons and told them about the incident on the flight.
A “violent altercation” is then said to have erupted at a Starbucks coffee shop at the terminal. Six minutes later, a male officer and two female cops intercepted the family at the car park ticket machines. The report said, “In the clip, Fahir then appears to land a blow to a female officer’s face, breaking her nose. He goes on to knock down a second woman cop in sickening scenes. Brother Amaad then looks to be throwing “full-blooded” punches at a male armed officer as he slumps back into a chair.
After the new footage emerged, Birmingham solicitor Akhmed Yakoob, who represents the family at the centre of a recent incident, has publicly stated he does not condone violence. The 36-year-old lawyer, with a substantial TikTok following of nearly 210,000, posted a video on the platform on Saturday evening following the release of the footage. In his message, he declared: “I do not promote violence.” He continued by explaining his role in calming tensions: “I have been behind the de-escalation of the whole situation, I urged protesters at Rochdale police station to go home.”
MAJDAL SHAMS: While Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday vowed to “hit the enemy hard”, raising fears that the Gaza conflict will spread after a rocket attack on Golan Heights, the European Union as well as Lebanon called for an independent probe into what happened.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Western powers, including the US, Britain France and Germany condemned the attack and appealed for calm, as Iran warned Israel any new military “adventures” in Lebanon could lead to “unforeseen consequences”.
Israel’s army called it “the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians” since October 2023 and blamed Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement for firing the rocket but the Iran-backed group that has targeted Israeli military positions in the past in response to illegal occupation of territory and unabated strikes on Palestinians said it had “no connection” to the latest incident.
The rocket hit Majdal Shams, whose population are Arabic-speaking Druze. Many residents of the Druze town have not accepted Israeli nationality since Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967.
EU, Lebanon seek independent probe into Golan strike
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who returned early from the US and went immediately into a security cabinet meeting, said: “Hezbollah will pay a heavy price” for the attack, “a price it has not paid before”. Earlier, Netanyahu had told the US Congress that Israel would do “whatever it must” to secure its northern border.
Blaming Hezbollah for “crossing all red lines”, Israel said it hit Hezbollah targets “both deep inside Lebanese territory and in southern Lebanon”.
Syria denounced Israel’s “false accusations” against Hezbollah and said Israel was looking for “pretexts to enlarge its aggression”. Also, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani warned Israel “any ignorant action of the Zionist regime can lead to the broadening of the scope of instability, insecurity and war in the region” and Israel would be then responsible for “the unforeseen consequences and reactions to such stupid behaviour”.
In a statement on X, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Sunday called for an “international investigation or a meeting of the tripartite committee held through UNIFIL to know the truth” about who was responsible for the attack and “called for the complete and comprehensive application” of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The tripartite committee refers to military officials from Lebanon and Israel along with peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
Also, EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the “bloodbath” and said there should be “an independent international investigation into this unacceptable incident.”
The UN urged “maximum restraint”, warning that intensifying exchanges of fire “could ignite a wider conflagration that would engulf the entire region in a catastrophe beyond belief”.
Britain condemned the attack, as did Germany, whose foreign ministry urged “cool heads”.
TEHRAN: Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hands the official endorsement letter to Masoud Pezeshkian during a ceremony held on Sunday to endorse the president-elect, ahead of his swearing-in on July 30. —AFP
TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave on Sunday his official endorsement of Dr Masoud Pezeshkian as the country’s ninth president, following snap elections won by the reformist camp’s candidate.
In a message read by the director of Khamenei’s office, the supreme leader said: “I endorse the vote (for) the wise, honest, popular and scholarly Mr Pezeshkian, and I am appointing him as the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The new reformist president is due to be sworn in before parliament on Tuesday.
The endorsement ceremony was held in the capital Tehran in the presence of senior Iranian officials and foreign diplomats, and broadcast on state TV. Ex-president Hassan Rouhani and Saeed Jalili also attended the Sunday’s ceremony.
Following the event, acting president Mohammad Mokhber handed over official responsibilities to 69-year-old Pezeshkian.
Vice president appointed
Later, Dr Pezeshkian appointed reformist Reza Aref, 72, as his first vice president.
Aref has represented Tehran in parliament and served as first vice president and communications minister under president Mohammad Khatami.
Dr Pezeshkian later thanked the people of Iran, vowing to carry the “heavy burden” of the presidency.
Local businessman Zulfiqar Ahmed, who was abducted in Karachi earlier this week, has returned to his home safely in Lahore, police said on Sunday.
Ahmed, who is the managing director of the Paracha Textile Mills and Mezan Group, was allegedly abducted by unknown armed men on July 23 when he, along with a friend Qaiser, was on his way to Clifton from his office.
On July 25, a two-judge bench headed by Justice Kausar Sultana Hussain heard the case after Anber Zulfiqar, the abductee’s wife, had petitioned the high court.
Subsequently, the Sindh High Court had issued notices to the ministry of interior, provincial home department, inspector general of police (IGP) and others on a petition seeking whereabouts of the businessman.
In her petition, the petitioner had said that the vehicle of her husband was intercepted by a double cabin vehicle on Mauripur Road near Agra Taj and eight armed men abducted Ahmed and his friend on Tuesday. However, they later set Qaiser free.
The petitioner submitted that she and her family approached various law enforcement agencies including police, but they had expressed ignorance about the incident.
She submitted that a written complaint was also submitted to the Kalri SHO by the manager of the mills for registration of a FIR, but to no avail.
The petitioner expressed the apprehension that her husband might be framed in forged cases or killed in a “staged encounter by the respondents” since he had not been produced before any court as yet.
South-DIG Syed Asad Raza confirmed to Dawn.com today that Ahmed reached his home in Lahore.
VIENTIANE: The top diplomats of China and the US sparred on Saturday over the South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in a territorial dispute with US treaty ally the Philippines.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Laos.
The US hailed the meeting as “open and productive,” after Blinken had criticised Beijing’s “escalatory and unlawful actions” in the South China Sea. Chinese and Filipino ships have clashed in the waterway, fuelling fears of a conflict that could drag in the US due to its mutual defence treaty with Manila.
The US should “refrain from fanning the flames, stirring up trouble and undermining stability at sea,” Wang said at the meeting, according to a foreign ministry statement.
During the meeting, which a State Department official said lasted one hour and twenty minutes, Blinken also raised US concerns over China’s support for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine. The two had had not arranged another meeting.
Stormy seas
Beijing claims the South China Sea — through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually — almost in its entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
According to a Chinese foreign ministry statement released later, Wang said the deal was a “temporary arrangement... to manage the situation,” without giving details.
On Friday, Wang called on the Philippines to “honour its commitments” under the deal rather than “backtracking or creating complications”, warning Beijing would “respond resolutely” to any violation.
Blinken’s stop in Laos is part of a multi-nation Asia visit to reinforce regional ties in the face of Beijing’s growing assertiveness, including in the South China Sea, and its deepening ties with Moscow.
He arrived in Laos two days after the foreign ministers of China and Russia met with the 10-nation Asean bloc.
The Balochistan government on Saturday said there were “unconfirmed rumours of firing by security forces” in Mastung as a hospital official confirmed that 14 people were injured.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) is set to hold a gathering in Gwadar on Sunday, where leaders of different political parties and rights activists from across the country are expected to attend and discuss the issue of enforced disappearances.
The organisation posted updates since early in the morning today about supporters departing from various parts to head towards Gwadar.
A statement issued from the Balochistan government spokesperson today about an incident in Mastung said: “There are rumours related to firing in Mustang. Reports of firing by security forces are unconfirmed. The law and order situation in Balochistan is being deliberately pushed towards deterioration.”
It said no one was exempt from the law and action would be taken against those who disturbed the peace, adding that “the intentions behind the demonstration in Gwadar are clear.”
“Peaceful protest is everyone’s right, however, law cannot be allowed to be taken into one’s hands. The BYC has been invited to resolve the issues through dialogue,” it said.
The statement added that the government recognised the right to a peaceful protest but the BYC should also acknowledge the local administration’s right and responsibility to choose the site for the demonstration.
The statement reiterated an offer for talks with the BYC.
Meanwhile, the BYC posted various alleged videos from Mastung, claiming that security forces had opened fire at and broken the windows of buses and vehicles moving towards Gwadar, leaving people injured.
It further alleged that “hundreds of innocent civilians” were abducted, mobile and network services were blocked and homes were being raided.
Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital CEO Dr Saeed Ahmed told Dawn.com that 14 people injured by firing in Mastung were brought to the hospital, out of which five critically injured were moved to Quetta for treatment.
BYC member Bebarg Baloch said the people at Mastung were now staging a demonstration there and vowed to reach Gwadar.
A Dawn.com correspondent also reported that protesters blocked and shut down Quetta’s Sariab Road to demonstrate against the alleged Mastung incident. The BYC called on the protesters in Quetta to converge at Balochistan University for one sit-in.
BYC organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch appealed to human rights organisations to take immediate notice of the incident and called on the Baloch community to stage peaceful demonstrations wherever they were stopped.
“We will shut down entire Balochistan indefinitely against this barbarity,” she said.
Meanwhile, lawyer and activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir warned that “the entire Balochistan will come out on the streets against this oppression and brutality of the state. This state is making a huge blunder which will have far-reaching consequences.”
Senior journalist Hamid Mir called on PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari, whose party forms the government in the province, to answer for the incident and “who ordered it?”
The alleged incident also drew international attention as British MP John McDonnell said there were “worrying reports of Pakistani security forces attacking people travelling peacefully to the Baloch National Gathering. This attack reflects the ongoing human rights abuses taking place in Balochistan. Pressure is needed now on the Pakistani government to halt this oppression.”
IT is again that time of the year when we start talking about how bad things are, how irreversibly corrupt and inept our system is, and how we need to entirely substitute the old with the new. A new judiciary, a new security apparatus, a new people, perhaps, and as is the mantra every decade or so, a new political party.
Sadly, however, it is always the same story. The system has failed us, so it needs to be changed. Those benefiting from it are bad, but we are not. They are corrupt, but not us. They are disingenuous, but we are not. They represent the status quo, and we are the change you want to see in society. In a nutshell, they promise immediate change, and instant results.
But is such a change sustainable or permanent? The history of Pakistan teaches us that it is not. In fact, if anything, change tends to be incremental. It envisions a step-by-step approach to making things better. The goal is not to craft a perfect solution, but to acknowledge the deficiencies in the existing ones, and to improve upon it on a day-to-day basis. Some call it tweaking, others refer to it as adjustments, whilst others still refer to it as streamlining. Whichever way you look at it, however, it represents the ability to appreciate the value of what has already been built, whilst acknowledging that it is not perfect, requiring constant work, effort, and improvement. In other words, you don’t necessarily have to raze the house and remake it every time you see a problem with it.
But what happens when you don’t realise the value of what you already have, or it becomes increasingly difficult to see any positives amongst a sea of negatives? Or when everything seems useless and without justification, simply wrong or unsustainable? In a nutshell, what do you do when all is seen as corrupted and nothing can be saved?
We seek to upend everything because it’s easier to look forward to something new than look back at something ugly that was of our own making.
You reject the validity or utility of the existing solutions altogether, whatever their actual worth, and envision a clean break from the past as the only path forward. It is essentially an attempt to press the factory reset button. It is to acknowledge that all that has preceded the situation was wrong, and what shall proceed now shall be different, and hence, right.
If such a desire stemmed from lessons learnt from our collective past, or an attempt to correct ourselves, one could perhaps be more sympathetic to those who seek to ‘substitute’ the entire system with something new as opposed to trying to incrementally build upon it. But unfortunately, that is not the case.
The consistent desire to ‘substitute’ stems from our collective desire to seek quick changes without putting in the effort to bring them about in a sustainable and permanent manner. We seek instant gratification, and the work required to obtain it is a mere inconvenience which need not distract us. This has been our problem for almost all our existence.
Whenever we face a difficult period, we choose to uproot what is already established and substitute it with something entirely new. After a while, when again confronted with difficulties, we uproot that new system and then try something else. When faced with further tribulations, we simply rinse and repeat and hope for the best. Our faith in uprooting and re-rooting as a solution to all our ills is extraordinary and astounding, if not perplexing, especially because it has not worked for 75-odd years. Yet, we still believe it will fix everything — the next time.
But it won’t, because those talking of a new order or new beginning have yet to learn from the mistakes of the previous order. In fact, talk of substitution and breaking from the past, without actually learning from it, is the highest form of abdicating any responsibility for all that has gone wrong, refusing to understand where we went awry, and still hoping that the mistakes of yesteryear miraculously won’t be repeated. It’s an attempt to course correct without correcting anything. It is essentially more of the same, and less of what you need more of.
And we are very skillful in this way, that is, in pretending that we actually have the answers to all our problems. But seldom do those answers revolve around rational and incremental paths to progress.
On the contrary, they always start and end with knee-jerk reactions and invasive ideas which seek to destroy what exists in favour of something that does not.
Our problem has never been that the system needed replacing. It is that we don’t have the patience to commit to the work and effort required to bring about the change we want to see in ourselves and our country.
We seek to upend everything because it’s easier to look forward to something new than look back at something ugly that was of our own making. It’s easier to forget the past than to accept it and acknowledge our role in it. And certainly, it’s easier to promise to the public a new beginning rather than looking in the mirror, admitting to our colossal mistakes, assuming responsibility for those mistakes, suffering the consequences of it, and then making the painstaking effort to actually correct them.
It’s just easier, less of a hassle, and plainly more convenient, and that is why we prioritise revolutionary changes over incremental progress, because, let’s face it, in revolutionary changes, the past becomes irrelevant, and so does any accountability for it.
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Thursday removed Fazal Hakeem Khan as provincial minister for climate change and environment and assigned him the portfolio of livestock after a barrage of social media criticism over deforestation in the province.
A notification issued by the administration department stated, “[…] in exercise of powers conferred by the sub-rule 1 of Rule 3 of KP Government Rules of Business 1985, the KP chief minister was pleased to assign the portfolio of livestock, fisheries and cooperatives department to Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai by relieving him from the portfolio of climate change, forestry, environment and wildlife department with immediate effect”.
Sources told Dawn that Mr Hakeem’s portfolio was changed after some videos of deforestation and widespread logging were widely circulated on social media platforms.
On the other hand, a ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf insider told Dawn that Mr Hakeem himself had requested to change his portfolio due to the criticism of his ministry. He said Mr Hakeem had recently met KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and asked him to relieve him from the ministry. The source said that Mr Gandapur accepted his request and changed his portfolio.
Mr Hakeem had also made several gaffes in a recent TV interview with a Pashto language channel. Clips of the gaffes about his understanding of climate change and other environment-related issues had gone viral on social media platforms, attracting widespread criticism from the general public and climate activists.
• Cabinet approves online system to allow business, tourist visas within 24 hours
• E-gates to be established at Gwadar port, nine airports
ISLAMABAD: In a major change in visa policy aimed at attracting tourists and investment from across the world, Pakistan has completely waived the visa fee for the citizens of as many as 126 countries.
The decision, dubbed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a “quantum jump” to attract businessmen, investors, tourists and other travellers and to bring ease of doing business, was taken at the federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
While relaxing the visa policy, the cabinet approved the enforcement of online visa application system under which citizens of 126 countries would get business and tourist visas within 24 hours and would be exempt from paying visa processing fee.
An official handout issued by PM House quoted the prime minister as saying the cost of visa processing after the waiver would be covered through foreign exchange earned through investment and tourism, including religious tourism of which Pakistan has immense potential.
Not only the visitors would get visas within 24 hours through the electronic travel authorisation form, but also get the facility of e-gates, which would be established at Gwadar Port and nine airports across Pakistan, according to the statement. Initially, the e-gates would be installed at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi airports.
Moreover, for the travel facilitation of Sikh Yatrees (pilgrims) having passports of a third country, the cabinet approved a separate sub-category for visa-on-arrival facility. For this purpose, it was decided that a dashboard would be introduced at the interior ministry to supervise the online visa system.
A source told Dawn that the visa policy was relaxed for businessmen and tourists so that they can apply for visa online, even a day before travel.
The decision of the cabinet would be implemented by the interior ministry and the Foreign Office, the source said, adding that all the 126 countries would be informed through the FO.
Special courts
Also, the federal cabinet, on the recommendations of the high courts of Islamabad, Balochistan, Sindh, Lahore and Peshawar as well as the Ministry of Law and Justice, approved notification of special courts and banking courts with regard to banking cases.
The special and banking courts would function under the security exchange commission.
The cabinet also gave the go-ahead to singing of an MoU between Pakistan and Denmark for promotion of public-private partnership for logistics, transport, sustainable growth, water waste management, urban green development, alternative energy and construction of basic infrastructure.
Resolution on Palestine
Separately, the cabinet demanded that the international community make Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity and bring it to face court of justice, and stressed upon the global community to accelerate its efforts to ensure ceasefire and supply of human assistance in Gaza.
The ICJ had declared Israeli brutalities as “genocide” of Palestinians.
A resolution, passed by the cabinet in support of Palestinians and shared by PM Office, said more than 39,000 Palestinians had been martyred due to barbarity of Israel.
For the fourth straight year, the Pakistani passport has been ranked the fourth worst by this year’s Henley Passport Index, a ranking of the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations their owners can access without a prior visa.
In the latest ranking issued on Tuesday, Pakistan’s travel document (100th place — tied with Yemen) is only ranked higher than those of Iraq (101), Syria (102) and Afghanistan (103) — same as last year.
Pakistan and Yemen’s passports permit visa-free access to 33 states, Iraq’s allows travel to 31, Syria’s gives access to 28 destinations and Afghanistan’s travel document only affords the bearer access to 26 destinations.
“Afghanistan remains firmly entrenched as the world’s weakest passport, losing access to yet another destination over the past six months, leaving its citizens with access to only 26 countries visa-free — the lowest score ever recorded in history of the 19-year-old index,” a press release said.
The top spot yet again belonged to Singapore, as its passport provides citizens visa-free access to 195 destinations, setting a “new record score”.
Germany, Italy, Japan, France and Spain tied for 2nd place, with each passport allowing access to 192 destinations.
At 3rd place were Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden with access to 191 destinations.
The United Kingdom was ranked 4th with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland with access to 190 states while the United States ranked 8th with access to 186 destinations.
Also notable was the entry of the United Arab Emirates into the top 10 for the first time, having added an “impressive” 152 destinations since the index’s inception in 2006 to achieve its current visa-free score of 185, and rising a “remarkable” 53 places in the ranking from 62nd to 9th position in the process.
The press release quoted Henley & Partners CEO Dr Juerg Steffen as saying that the UAE’s “meteoric ascent” was the result of “deliberate and concerted efforts by the Emirati government to position the UAE as a global hub for business, tourism, and investment.
“Our research has consistently shown a strong correlation between a country’s visa-free score and its economic prosperity. Nations with higher visa-free scores tend to enjoy greater GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment and more robust international trade relationships”.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has reportedly finalised the list of its candidates for the seats reserved for women in the Punjab Assembly.
The list has been prepared after the recent Supreme Court verdict in favour of the party for getting the reserved seats on the basis of the general seats won by the candidates with its support in the Feb 8 vote.
It is learnt that the PTI has prepared a list of 35 women candidates, including recently released social media activist Sanam Javaid and incarcerated central Punjab chapter president Dr Yasmin Rashid. However, it may claim only 24 women reserved seats in the provincial house.
The final approval of the list will be given by the founder chairman Imran Khan.
Yasmin, Sanam among candidates
Other women leaders included in the Punjab Assembly list are: Tayyaba Ambreen, Naheed Niaz (Okara), Abida Raja (north Punjab women wing head); Saira Raza (north Punjab general secretary), Azra Naseem (west Punjab general secretary), Qurban Fatima (ex-south Punjab president), Farah Agha (ex-MPA and Rawalpindi dist head), Firdous Rahna (ex-MPA and women wing VP), Sadia Ayub, Ayesha Bhutta, Neelam Iftikhar Rao (Sahiwal chapter head), Sara Ali Syed, and Tanzeela Imran (Lahore women wing chief).
Rukhsana Raza Bano, Ruqia Bibi (Rajanpur dist president), Safia Javed (recommended by Moonis Elahi), Aminah Badar, Bushra Saeed (DG Khan), Amira Azhar, Aqsa Asim (Chiniot dist president), Shehla Mumtaz Niazi (Mianwali), Maimoona Kamal (Islamabad), Shireen Nawaz, Syeda Fatima Haider, Tehmina Riaz, Nelofer Ahmad Malik (Jhelum), Maryam Kulsoom (daughter of Mahmoodur Rasheed), Adeeba Nazar, Saima Noreen, Syeda Hina, Parveen Zaman, Shahmeen Shahid (recommended by Hammad Azhar), and Mrs Bilal Warraich.
Almost all the nominees have either been part of the May 9 protest or have performed ‘security’ duty at Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan, reveals the comments given about each of those on the list.
In May, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan had suspended 24 women and three minority MPAs elected on reserved seats and barred them from joining house proceedings after the Supreme Court had suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s verdict to allocate reserved seats to parties other than PTI/Sunni Ittehad Council.
Meanwhile, the PTI has also prepared a list of 14 nominees for the reserved seats for women from the Punjab quota in the National Assembly.
They are: Women’s wing president Kanwal Shauzeb, general secretary Rubina Shaheen, ex-north Punjab president Seemabiya Tahir, Farkhunda Kokab, Aaliya Hamza, interim Punjab president Shahnaz Tariq, general secretary Punjab Dr. Misbah Zafar, Rubiya Jameel, Rehana Dar, Khadija Shah, Dr Nosheen Hamid, ex-governor Umar Cheema’s wife Rabia Sultan Cheema, Farah Agha and Firdous Rehana.
Although its cause has always found sympathetic ears in Western democracies, British parliamentarians on Tuesday hinted that they would like to help the PTI “internationalist” its case over the alleged intimidation and harassment faced by the party following its ouster from power in 2022.
The remarks came during a hearing held at the House of Lords which saw more than a dozen parliamentarians listen as PTI figures detailed allegations of electoral fraud, the breakdown of the rule of law and prolonged incarceration of party founder Imran Khan, as well as growing censorship and intimidation by way of arrests and abductions.
Jointly hosted by Conservative peer Lord Daniel Hannan and British Pakistani Labour MP Naz Shah, the event was also attended by former Tory home secretary Priti Patel, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon and Labour MP Naushaba Khan, among others.
During his remarks, the Tory peer suggested that British parliamentarians could “internationalise this issue [of PTI intimidation] beyond the UK.
“I would like us to do a cross-party letter from our colleagues to elected members across the US and Australia,” he said, as several lawmakers asked the PTI leaders what “tangible steps” could be taken by them to address this issue.
The meeting comes weeks after the US House of Representatives adopted a bi-partisan resolution with an overwhelming majority, demanding a probe into the February 8 elections and condemning widespread human rights violations in Pakistan.
This concern also echoed during today’s discussion, when Shah joked to Priti Patel that if Pakistan-style vote-counting took place in the UK, “your party would still be in government”.
Lord Hannan opened by saying that as friends of Pakistan, “we cannot be indifferent to what is happening in a friendly country.”
“I reiterate the point that we are friends of Pakistan. This is not an anti-Pakistan meeting — it’s a pro-Pakistan meeting,” Shah stressed.
Shah added that in the past she had spoken about the arrests of journalists in Pakistan but also about “what is happening in Bangladesh or in [Narendra] Modi’s India when it comes to press freedom and minority rights.
“You can either be on the right side of human rights or not — you can’t pick and choose. We use a similar yardstick across the globe but Pakistan is closer in terms of vested interests for me.”
Hannan later said it was “wonderful to have so many MPs and peers from all parties at our hearing into irregularities at the recent Pakistan election and the continuing detention of Imran Khan.”
. The government has already announced plans to ban PTI from politics and try its leader for sedition, over charges of violating the Constitution. An important cabinet meeting, which was expected to consider the issue of banning the opposition PTI today was postponed due to the prime minister’s “hectic schedule”, PM House sources had said.
Earlier this month, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention held that Imran’s prosecution and detention in the cipher and one of the two Toshakhana cases against him were “without legal basis” and politically motivated to exclude him from competing in the political arena.
The working group had requested the government to take the steps necessary to “remedy the situation of Mr Khan without delay and bring it into conformity with the relevant international norms”.
The working group had said the appropriate remedy would be to release Imran immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations.
It has also called on the government to ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of Imran’s liberty and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights.
The working group referred the case to the office of two UN special rapporteurs for appropriate action.
A detailed version of the story will appear in Wednesday’s paper.
An image shared on social media platform X on July 19 showed a pride flag displayed above an office of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), claiming that it showed the national carrier supporting the LGBTQ community. However, the office is long shut down and the flag was placed by the local Amsterdam government.
An account shared the picture with the caption: “PIA supports pride.”
The user did not share other details of the picture such as the location of the office or the time and date the image was taken. The post gained over 38,000 views.
Contacting PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan for a comment on the image, he said the office was located in Amsterdam and shut down in 2018.
He said that every year the city celebrated the queer festival Amsterdam Pride from July 22-August 4.
The spokesperson said the flag was put up by the municipal government of Amsterdam and shared pictures and videos of the street to corroborate his statement.
Sharing more visuals from the location, he also pointed out that the larger flags had monograms of the municipality and did not represent PIA’s values.
Images showing pride flags at the street with a defunct PIA office in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is known as a queer-friendly city and will host the WorldPride festival in 2026.
The spokesperson further said that PIA had rented out the office to another entity which would remove the national carrier’s name and logo once it was done with the renovation.
Therefore, the fact check determined that the claim regarding PIA supporting the LGBTQ community by displaying a pride flag above its office is false. A spokesperson for the national carrier confirmed the office in Amsterdam was already long closed and the flag was put up by the municipal government.
WASHINGTON: “I have been a Democrat all along, but no more,” said Gibran Syed, who voted for Joe Biden in 2020.
“Too much money spent on welfare and LGBTQ issues, incompetent leadership, and illegal immigration,” he explained when asked why he switched to the Republicans.
“I wouldn’t even mention Gaza, as both parties would react similarly on that issue.”
He was speaking at an event organised to emphasise the importance of Pakistani and Muslim votes in Virginia, a crucial swing state.
Here, many attendees pledged their support for Donald Trump in the upcoming November elections.
“There are more than 350,000 registered Muslim voters in Northern Virginia, with a majority being Pakistani,” said Mansoor Qureshi, the event’s organiser. “If they all go out to vote, they would become a significant and influential political force.”
Rubina Wadhwa, a repeat Trump voter since 2018, attributed the low turnout to a specific demographic: ‘Pakistani and Muslim women don’t vote,’ she observed. However, she remains optimistic, believing that “if Pakistani and Muslim women exercise their right to vote, they can significantly amplify the influence of their communities across the United States.”
The evening featured Republican Juan Pablo Segura, the current Chief Deputy Secretary of Trade and Commerce for the state of Virginia, who expressed his commitment to addressing the issues facing immigrant communities. He assured the Pakistani community of his availability and willingness to collaborate for their benefit.
Virginia’s Governor, Glenn Youngkin, is a Republican, and the party also controls the House of Delegates, while Democrats hold a narrow majority in the Senate.
This balance may shift in the November elections, which could also impact the presidential race because of the electoral college system.
The electoral college has a total of 538 votes available, and a presidential candidate must receive a majority of at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
Segura engaged with the leaders of the Pakistan American community, listening to their concerns and discussing potential solutions. He emphasised the importance of unity and “active participation in the electoral process to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.”
The organisers’ mission is to inspire the Pakistani community to actively participate in the American electoral system, advocating for the best political leaders who represent their interests.
Nuzaira Azam, a Democrat, attended the Republican event to gauge how the recent tragedy in Gaza might influence Muslim voters. She observed that many participants who had previously voted for Biden in 2018 were now leaning towards Trump, citing the Gaza conflict as a key factor.
“The situation in Gaza is a festering wound that can only be healed through the implementation of a two-state solution,’ she said, adding, “It’s heartbreaking to even think about the suffering in Gaza.’”
DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Sunday scrapped most quotas on government jobs after nationwide action led by students spiralled into clashes that killed at least 139 people, but some organisers said the protests would continue.
Dismissing a lower court order, the Supreme Court’s appellate division directed that 93pc of government jobs should be open to candidates on merit, Attorney General A.M. Amin Uddin said.
A Bangladeshi student group whose demonstrations against civil service hiring rules precipitated serious nationwide unrest said on Sunday it would not abandon protests despite the SC ruling partially meeting their demands.
“We won’t call off our protests until the government issues an order reflecting our demands,” a spokesman for Students Against Discrimination told AFP, on condition of anonymity.
Student groups say ruling is unclear; Dhaka remains under ‘indefinite’ curfew
There was no immediate reaction from groups affected by reduced quotas following Sunday’s verdict.
The recent clashes followed similar violent protests ahead of January’s national elections by Sheikh Hasina’s opponents in response to what they called her authoritarian rule, and by garment workers demanding better pay amid high inflation.
The AG insisted that students had clearly said they were in “no way part of the violence and arson”. “I am hoping normalcy will return after today’s ruling and people with ulterior motives will stop instigating people,” he added.
Internet and text message services in Bangladesh have been suspended since Thursday, as security forces cracked down on protesters who defied a ban on public gatherings.
On Sunday, India said over 4,500 students returned home over the past few days. It said 500 Nepalese students and 38 from Bhutan also had arrived in the country.
Protests to continue
At least four protest coordinators told BBC Bangla that they planned to continue their action until they secured the release of some detained student leaders and the restoration of internet and other cellular services.
“The judgement of the Supreme Court seems unclear to us. There is no clear-cut solution for all types of quotas,” said Abdul Quader, one of the coordinators.
Soldiers have been patrolling the streets of Dhaka since the government ordered a curfew late on Friday. A tank was stationed outside the SC gates at the time of the hearing as Dhaka remains under ‘indefinite’ curfew .
At least 139 people have been killed so far, according to data from hospitals. Universities and colleges have been closed since Wednesday.
North Korea on Sunday floated balloons carrying trash towards South Korea, South Korea’s military said, declaring it would respond with “full-scale” loudspeaker broadcasts.
The South Korean military said the North’s actions raising tensions near the heavily armed border could have fatal consequences, adding the North Korean regime would be solely responsible.
“As we warned several times, the military will carry out loudspeaker broadcasts in full scale and on all fronts starting 1pm today,” the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, calling the North’s launch of balloons vulgar and shameful.
Activists and defectors in South Korea have for years sent their balloons carrying propaganda leaflets and other items into North Korea, angering Pyongyang.
Earlier this week, South Korea’s military decided to resume its round-the-clock loudspeaker broadcast campaign targeting North Korea in response to what it called the despicable launch of balloons by Pyongyang carrying trash across the border.
Since May, North Korea has been floating thousands of balloons with bags of trash attached to them, which have become a new source of tension between the two Koreas.
Blaring propaganda, world news and K-pop music, South Korea’s broadcasts are considered by military officials and activists as an effective form of psychological warfare.
PARIS: Planes were gradually taking off again on Saturday after global airlines, banks and media were thrown into turmoil by one of the biggest IT crashes in recent years, caused by an update to an antivirus program.
Passenger crowds had swelled at airports on Friday as dozens of flights were cancelled after an update to a program operating on Microsoft Windows crashed systems worldwide.
By Saturday, officials said the situation had returned virtually to normal in airports across Germany and France, as Paris prepared to welcome millions for the Olympic Games starting on Friday.
Multiple US airlines and airports across Asia said they had resumed operations, with check-in services restored in Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand, and mostly back to normal in India, Indonesia and at Singapore’s Changi Airport as of Saturday afternoon.
“There are no long queues at the airports as we experienced yesterday,” Airports of Thailand president Keerati Kitmanawat told reporters.
Microsoft said the issue began at 1900 GMT on Thursday, affecting Windows users running the CrowdStrike Falcon cybersecurity software.
In a Saturday blog post, CrowdStrike said it had released an update on Thursday night that caused a system crash and the infamous “blue screen of death” fatal error message.
CrowdStrike said it had rolled out a fix for the problem and the company’s boss, George Kurtz, told US news channel CNBC he wanted to “personally apologise to every organisation, every group and every person who has been impacted”.
The company also said it could take a few days for a full return to normal.
Australian, British and German authorities warned of an increase in scam and phishing attempts following the outage, including people offering to help reboot computers and asking for personal information or credit card details.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed late on Saturday that the PTI was ready to dissolve its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and resign from all assemblies for fresh elections.
“This is a positive approach and we welcome it,” Fazl told reporters at his residence in Islamabad.
The PTI or any leader did not address or comment on the claim on social media as of Saturday night.
He also reported progress in contacts with the PTI and said his party formed a committee for formal negotiations to bury the hatchet.
“PTI and JUI had a bitter past and normalisation is a priority for future cooperation. This will lay the foundation for moving ahead,” he said.
He detailed that senior leader Kamran Murtaza would lead the committee while other members would be Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Fazal Ghafoor, Maulana Amjad and Fazal Ghafoor.
Fazl blasted the government for keeping PTI founder Imran Khan and other party leaders in prison.
He also reiterated his opposition to Operation Azm-i-Istehkam and claimed the people did not support it as they had suffered a lot due to previous military operations.
“People will not leave their houses again as they had to flee Swat and tribal areas due to operations and would live in camps,” he recalled.
Fazl called on the establishment to review its policies, saying the country could not continue to run if the current situation prevailed.
“They (the establishment) have no capability to deal with political matters. They want to make the Parliament and civil institutions as slaves and elected representatives as their servants,” he said.
“If you want to impose an emergency, launch parties of your own choice and make the Parliament subservient, we will not allow this,” he asserted.
Addressing the establishment, Fazl said: “You are creating a situation like Bangladesh in two provinces (KP and Balochistan) to separate from the country. The situation is now out of your hands and control. Martial law and emergency will not work now.”
Afghanistan visit
The JUI-F chief also referred to his visit to Afghanistan in January and said he had received assurance from the Afghan leadership on several issues, including suggestions to resolve the issue of violence.
“Our people lost what I had achieved during my visit to Afghanistan,” he rued.
The JUI-F chief announced a series of gatherings in the coming weeks as part of public mobilisations, including a farmers’ convention in Mardan and traders gathering in Peshawar.
Four police officers were suspended for “misbehaviour” on Saturday during an attempt to disperse a protest by civil society organisations at Karachi’s Clifton a day prior.
Police on Friday night resorted to baton-charge to disperse civil society activists who were seeking recovery of seven-year-old Priya Kumari, who had gone missing in Sukkur three years ago. Civil society members showed up in big numbers to protest the failure of the Sindh government and police to recover Priya Kumari.
Three years ago the child went missing when she was serving free cold drinks at a sabeel on Ashura in Sangrar.
A statement from the South Zone police spokesperson addressed what it said was “misbehavior by police personal with journalists”.
The statement said an initial probe revealed that four policemen were responsible for the incident and were subsequently suspended by the South senior superintendent of police, adding that an inquiry was initiated for further legal action.
“We condemn torture against the journalists and no one would be allowed misuse powers,” the statement said, adding that all legal requirements would be fulfilled and departmental action would be taken against the suspended officers.
As the situation deteriorated further on Friday night, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar had arrived and held a successful talk with the protest organisers.
South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza told Dawn.com that different groups had organised the protest and it was not easy to satisfy all, thus the talks were prolonged.
He said the protestors’ main demand for the expansion of the joint investigation team formed for the girl’s recovery was accepted.
The home minister also assured the organisers that the JIT’s findings would be shared with them.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the minister’s spokesperson Sikander Baloch said that Lanjar assured the organisers that the JIT members would provide information about “further progress” in the case to the girl’s parents.
“Efforts for recovery of Priya Kumari are underway and all aspects of investigation will be shared with the members of the negotiation committee by the JIT members,” Lanjar said.
He said concerted efforts were made for the girl’s recovery of the girl, adding that law and order was the government’s top priority and indiscriminate action was taken against criminal elements in all districts.
Kumari’s parents, members of the protest’s negotiating team, Lanjar and PPP lawmakers met at the Sindh Chief Minister’s House tonight where DIG Javed Jiskani informed them about the JIT’s efforts for the girl’s recovery.
Lanjar observed that it was a “blind case” but the Sindh police had revived hope of solving it. “Priya Kumari is alive and we have evidence,” he said, adding that the investigation team would achieve a breakthrough.
Omani Ambassador Fahad Sulaiman Khalaf Al Kharusi shakes hands with PM Shehbaz Sharif.—APP
ISLAMABAD: Abu Dhabi will invest $250 million in 10 years in the Karachi Port to upgrade it for boosting economic activities.
According to the PM Office, Abu Dhabi Ports Pakistan CEO Khurram Aziz Khan on Friday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and informed him that the company would invest $250m in the port during the next 10 years.
Accompanied by a delegation, the company’s CEO explained that a fully equipped multipurpose terminal would be completed within two years with an investment of $130m. With the new infrastructure, cargo ships of up to 120,000-tonne capacity would be able to anchor at the port. The PM called for using modern technology and machinery to improve cargo and container handling at the port besides reducing the clearance time.
PM offers help to Oman in investigating terror attack
Huawei delegation
Later, PM Shehbaz in a meeting with a four-member delegation, led by Huawei Pakistan CEO Ethan Sun, said Pakistan’s IT exports would rise with Huawei’s annual professional training to 300,000 Pakistani students. Collaboration with Huawei was essential for providing advanced IT training to young people in various fields, he said, adding that the government would give priority to people of Balochistan for this training. On the occasion, Huawei expressed interest in collaborating with the Pakistani government to transform Islamabad into a smart city.
Omani ambassador
At a separate meeting with Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman, Fahad Sulaiman Khalaf Al Kharusi, PM Shehbaz condemned the dastardly terrorist attack on Imambargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Muscat and offered Pakistan’s support to Oman in dealing with terrorism.
He also appreciated Oman’s swift response and cooperation with the Pakistan mission in repatriation of the bodies and treatment of the injured.
LAHORE: The Sharifs have ratcheted up their criticism of the Supreme Court judges, accusing them of delivering a verdict in favour of Imran Khan’s PTI in the reserved seats case, and warning them of severe repercussions if any attempt was made to destabilise the country.
On Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz joined other party leaders, including Khawaja Asif, Irfan Siddiqui, Javed Latif and Azma Bokhari, in criticising the eight sitting judges of the apex court who allowed the PTI to reclaim its seats in parliament and provincial assemblies.
Irfan Siddiqui, the speechwriter for PML-N president Nawaz Sharif, has also hinted that the party might confront the Supreme Court through the platform of parliament.
“The Supreme Court’s decision [in the reserved seats case] is an attempt to destabilise the country. The judges who delivered the verdict in favour of PTI have, in fact, sold their conscience. Decisions should be made in accordance with the law and the Constitution, not based on personal conscience. We cannot help if their conscience is sold,” Maryam Nawaz said while speaking at the launching of Model Bazaar free home delivery project in Township.
Punjab CM warns of repercussions if any attempt made to destabilise country
“The Supreme Court judges have rewritten the Constitution, giving what was not even asked for. It was said to join the PTI which is not even present in parliament. It is just a case of rewriting the Constitution to favour a loser and his [Imran Khan] party,” she said.
Maryam Nawaz issued a stern warning to the Supreme Court judges, saying, “I want to tell the judges of the Supreme Court, let this country function smoothly. We will not allow you to disrupt its progress. If anyone attempts to derail development and create political instability, they will be dealt with iron hands,” she asserted, adding, “Whenever the country starts to make progress, someone starts conspiring against it.”
She said the Supreme Court had declared the already submitted affidavits unacceptable and instead advised crossing the floor. “Earlier (former chief justice) Umar Atta Bandial attempted to rewrite the Constitution. But this time it will not be tolerated. I will speak out and urge the people to speak out against such verdicts as well,” the Punjab chief minister said, adding that she is unsure how long the PML-N will remain in power, but as long as it’s here, it will continue to serve the masses.
Last year, Maryam Nawaz launched a scathing attack on the judiciary, specifically targeting sitting and retired judges of the Supreme Court, for their role in ousting her father, Nawaz Sharif, from power in 2017.
During a rally in Sargodha in February 2023, she publicly displayed pictures of former chief justices Asif Khosa and Saqib Nisar, as well as two sitting Supreme Court judges, criticising their decisions.
Sanam Javed’s detention
Maryam Nawaz defended the detention of PTI social media activist Sanam Javed for 14 months, stating that those responsible for the May 9 violence did not deserve sympathy or leniency. “It’s regrettable if an innocent woman is jailed, but those who set fire to the country’s security installations are not innocent. A woman [Sanam Javed] who attacked this country and torched its facilities has been granted bail,” she said.
Ms Javed, a vocal critic of Maryam Nawaz, had been arrested multiple times in various cities across the country in connection with the May 9 cases. However, on Thursday, she was released from custody after the Islamabad High Court declared her arrest illegal. The court ordered her release and directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to refrain from arresting her again, allowing her to return to Punjab.
Parliament’s role
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui suggested that parliament should play its role in response to the Supreme Court’s verdict on the reserved seats case. “To prevent the continued insult to the Constitution based on personal preferences and lawlessness, parliament must fulfil its responsibility. As the creator of the Constitution, parliament has sworn to protect it and cannot abandon the state to the whims of a panchayati mindset,” he said.
