OIC condemns Israel’s barbarism in Gaza; Russia, China, Iran criticize US veto in UNSC

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October 19, 2023

JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s recent attack on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in central Gaza, describing it as an act of “organized state terrorism” and a “war crime.”

In a statement released late on Wednesday, the OIC expressed its outrage at the “brutal Israeli massacre” that occurred in the Baptist Hospital within the Gaza Strip.

The OIC, which represents a 57-member bloc of Muslim nations, held the Israeli occupation responsible for the severe consequences of its actions, including what it deemed “terrorist practices and brutal attacks against the Palestinian people.”

The organization highlighted that these actions not only contradicted fundamental human values but also constituted a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

In its statement, the OIC emphasized the urgent need for accountability and punishment for such instances of “organized state terrorism.” It called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to swiftly intervene and put an end to the war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza. The organization also called for the provision of international protection for the Palestinian people who have been caught in the crossfire.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, has strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire, along with the lifting of the siege of Gaza. He expressed his concerns during an urgent open-ended Ministerial Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jeddah, which was co-convened by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Foreign Minister Jilani denounced the Israeli aggression and the humanitarian blockade of Gaza, which have led to death, destruction, and displacement. He stressed that Israel’s actions are in clear violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity. He called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for these crimes.

Jalil Abbas Jilani also highlighted the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the prevention of forced evacuations of Palestinians from their homes, and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian and relief supplies to Gaza.

The foreign minister pointed out that the root cause of the recent conflict lies in the non-implementation of the two-state solution. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, advocating for the establishment of a viable, secure, contiguous, and sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Meanwhile, the United States exercized its veto power in the United Nations Security Council, blocking a resolution, drafted by Brazil, that called for humanitarian pauses in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants. The intended purpose of these pauses was to enable the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Despite extensive discussions and two previous delays, the US remained determined to secure aid access to Gaza through diplomatic efforts. The vote saw twelve members of the Security Council voting in favor of the draft resolution, while both Russia and Britain abstained from the vote.

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, emphasized the importance of diplomacy in the region. She stated, “We are on the ground doing the hard work of diplomacy. We believe we need to let that diplomacy play out.” She highlighted the significance of actions aligning with facts on the ground and supporting direct diplomatic initiatives to save lives.

Traditionally, Washington has used its veto power to shield its ally, Israel, from Security Council actions. This was another instance of that practice.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized the US veto, pointing to what he perceived as hypocrisy and double standards. A Russian-proposed resolution seeking a humanitarian ceasefire also failed to pass earlier.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined the call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to facilitate the release of hostages and humanitarian aid access to Gaza.

Russia has requested an emergency special session of the 193-member UN General Assembly to discuss the conflict. Unlike the Security Council, the General Assembly does not have veto-wielding members. Although its resolutions are non-binding, they carry political significance.

UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland expressed deep concern about the situation, stating that there is a very real and extremely dangerous risk of the conflict expanding. He warned of a potential shift in the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader Middle East.

China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun criticized the US for leading other council members to believe the resolution was likely to be adopted, only to exercise a veto. He described the situation as “unbelievable.”

The US Ambassador reiterated their disappointment that the draft resolution failed to address Israel’s rights of self-defense and placed blame on Hamas for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The focus of international diplomacy remains on achieving a humanitarian pause near the Rafah border crossing to facilitate aid delivery.

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths emphasized the urgent need for a mechanism agreed upon by all relevant parties to ensure the regular provision of emergency necessities throughout Gaza.

Iran’s Ambassador to a UN, Reza Amiri Moghadam, has criticized the United States’ use of its political veto power at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), claiming that it is employing the UNSC as a tool for its political objectives. Ambassador Moghadam voiced concerns over the US’s unwavering support for Israel and its obstruction of a “ceasefire for humanitarian goals” in Gaza and Palestine.

In a statement on a social media platform, Ambassador Moghadam asserted that the US’s actions highlight the inefficiency of the United Nations in upholding international law, human rights, and humanitarian rights. He questioned the UN’s role in such circumstances and whether more innocent lives must be lost before it takes appropriate action.

He emphasized that the US’s veto at the UNSC effectively gives Israel the green light to continue its actions in Gaza, which he referred to as a genocide. Ambassador Moghadam called for Israeli war criminals to be brought before the International Court of Justice to ensure justice for the innocent Palestinian people. He urged the Muslim world not to wait for further loss of life but to take action.

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Change of plan: Nawaz to land in Islamabad instead of Lahore to surrender before IHC

By

Sara Maqsood

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October 18, 2023

ISLAMABAD: In an apparent change of plan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is expected to land at Islamabad International Airport instead of Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, as per legal sources in the party familiar with the development.

The former prime minister will likely land in Islamabad instead of Lahore and subsequently appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Consultations regarding Nawaz’s arrival in Islamabad are final, they said.

The sources said Nawaz will land in Islamabad on FlyDubai flight FZ-4525 AT 1pm.

“The appeals {in cases} are pending in IHC where Nawaz Sharif would surrender and plead suspension of sentence in IHC,” the legal team sources claimed.

Meanwhile, the PML-N has cancelled an event it had planned to launch an anthem regarding the return of party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

The event has been cancelled in view of Israel’s gruesome rocket attack on a Gaza hospital that killed more than 500 people.

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif was scheduled to launch the new party anthem.

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PTI seeks NoC for Friday public gathering in Islamabad

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Our Correspondent

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October 12, 2023

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sought permission from the deputy commissioner of Islamabad to hold a “peaceful” public gathering here in front of National Press Club on upcoming Friday (October 13) to express solidarity with the war-ravaged and besieged Palestinians.

PTI General Secretary Islamabad Region Tanveer Qazi filed an application with the district administration seeking a no-objection certificate (NoC) to organize a gathering in the federal capital to show support for the embattled Palestinians.

“I want to intimate that the PTI has decided to organize a peaceful public gathering to show solidarity and support with the people of Palestine on Friday, October 13,” reads the application.

It was said that the peaceful public gathering would be held in front of Islamabad Press Club.

A large number of the general public including women are expected to participate in the scheduled gathering against Israeli aggression to express support and solidarity with Palestine, he added.

“Therefore, I request you to grant NoC and also undertake necessary measures in terms of provision of venue, specialized security along with other related required steps,” PTI general secretary demanded.

The PTI Core Committee, in its meeting, held earlier this week, had decided to mark Friday as a ‘Palestine Solidarity Day’ across the country so as to highlight the “state terrorism and atrocities unleashed by the occupying Israeli forces on the innocent and oppressed people of Palestine before the world.”

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6 Indian ‘smugglers’ arrested from inside Pakistani territory: ISPR

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Our Correspondent

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August 23, 2023

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Rangers troops deployed along the international border with India have apprehended six Indian nationals inside Pakistani territory between July 29 and August 3, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

According to the statement, the Indians were trying to smuggle “narcotics, weapons and ammunition” into Pakistan.

“It shows likely complicity of BSF troops in narco and weapons smuggling,” the ISPR said. “In addition, it is also surprising that Indian BSF troops have so far failed to report six missing citizens.”

Four of these smugglers, the ISPR said, belong to the Indian Ferozpur, namely Gurmeej, son of Guldeep Singh, Shinder Singh son of Bhora Singh, Juginder Singh son of Thakur Singh and Vishal son of Jagga. Rattan Pal Singh belongs to Jalandhar and Garvender Singh belongs to Ludhiana.

“These Indian smugglers will be dealt [with] as per law of the land for illegally entering into Pakistan and indulging in nefarious activities,” the ISPR said.

The military’s media wing added that the security forces of Pakistan “will continue to maintain vigil and expect that Indian BSF will act professionally and sever their ties with smuggling rackets operating from their territory”.

The Indian army violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) for the second time in as many months. According to the ISPR, Indian troops martyred a villager in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) while he was working in his field.

The ISPR had said the attack was “blatant Indian aggression” and in clear violation of the existing ceasefire understandings.

“Pakistan desires peace and tranquility at its borders, however, all necessary measures will be taken to protect the life and property of our citizens,” the military’s media wing added.

“Any misadventure against the people of Pakistan will be befittingly responded at the time and place of our choosing.”

The latest ceasefire violation by the Indian army was condemned in the strongest terms by political leaders in Azad Kashmir.

Six soldiers martyred, four terrorists killed in clash near Afghan border

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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August 23, 2023

RAWALPINDI: Six Pakistani soldiers were martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists in a northwestern region near the border with Afghanistan, the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued here.

It was not clear which group was involved in the exchange of fire which also killed four militants, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

“During an intense exchange of fire, six brave soldiers, having fought gallantly, embraced martyrdom,” army media wing said, adding that the incident took place in the district of North Waziristan.

Two terrorists were injured in exchange of fire, ISPR said.

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Tree plantation drive kicks off in Islamabad

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Our Correspondent

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August 21, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal along with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Farzana Altaf Shah visited Islamabad’s posh commercial centre, F-6 Markaz, and launched a tree plantation drive from markets by planting a sapling in the supermarket.

F-6 Markaz Traders Welfare Association President Shahzad Shabbir Abbasi, Secretary General Aqib Abbasi, Khalid Chaudhry, Saifur Rahman Khan, Akhtar Abbasi, Malik Shabbir Awan, Imtiaz Abbasi and others were also present on the occasion.

The CDA chairman took a round of the market along with Chamber President Bakhtawari, EPA DG Farzana and representatives of the traders association and reviewed the ongoing development works.

He issued instructions to the CDA officials to speed up the ongoing works and to advance other works as well. Speaking on the occasion, he said the development work will be reviewed by visiting other markets soon.

He also announced on the occasion that the Zero Point Bridge would be handed over to ICCI for its decoration and beautification. He directed the CDA’s director environment to carry out the plantation drive in the markets in collaboration with ICCI while he would visit the markets.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Bakhtawari said the chamber had earlier planted thousands of saplings in Islamabad in collaboration with CDA and this year too, the ICCI in cooperation with CDA and concerned market associations, would carry out the plantation drive in the markets to make Islamabad greener and promote a healthy environment.

He said along with planting new trees, a strategy should be made for proper maintenance of old trees so that they can be kept safe. He said to determine the age of old trees in Islamabad, tags should be placed on them and special arrangements should be made for their proper maintenance so that they can be preserved for a long time.

He said only 10 to 15 per cent of the saplings survive while the rest are lost, so special attention should be paid to the care of the saplings. He urged the representatives of the market associations to fully cooperate with CDA in the plantation drive to make Islamabad more beautiful.

The EPA DG said there is a need to plant more trees to protect the cities from the harmful effects of climate change and it is commendable that the ICCI is promoting the tree plantation drive in the markets in collaboration with CDA and trade associations, which will make the environment of Islamabad healthier.

The Supermarket Association president assured of full cooperation to make the plantation drive successful.

He stressed that there is a need to replace the old sewage lines in the markets as the old lines are no longer able to bear the load due to the increase in population and often get blocked.

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India, Pakistan nominate charge d’affaires in Islamabad, New Delhi

By

Nuzhat Aftab

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August 21, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have nominated their new charge d’affaires in Islamabad as well as in New Delhi, media reports said.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has nominated Saad Waraich as charge d’affaires for New Delhi

India Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has nominated Gitika Srivastava as Indian charge d’affaires in Islamabad.

Saad Warraich is currently the Director General of Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey at the Foreign Office (FO).

Geetika Srivastava is the Joint Secretary for the Indo-Pacific Region in the Indian MEA.

It is pertinent to note that Aizaz Khan and Dr Suresh Kumar have completed their tenures as charge d’affaires.

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Cypher case: Qureshi’s one-day physical remand approved by district court

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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August 20, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The District and Sessions Judge of Islamabad has approved one-day physical remand of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cYpher misplacement case.

The court has also ordered the investigating officer to present the former foreign minister Qureshi again tomorrow on Monday.

The counsel for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said the FIR against Qureshi was registered under the recently promulgated Official Secrets Act.

At the request of the lawyer, the magistrate ordered everyone but the lawyers concerned to leave the courtroom. The magistrate then held an in-camera hearing of the case.

The FIA had sought 14-day physical remand of Qureshi, and the court had reserved its decision.

Earlier on reaching the court, Qureshi met with former PTI leader Shireen Mazari.

According to the FIR, the case was registered against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Qureshi on August 15 over the alleged misplacement of a diplomatic cable from the US under sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act 1923 read with Section 34 of the PPC.

The FIR was registered on the application of Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar.

According to the contents of the FIR, at the conclusion of an inquiry dated Oct 5, 2022, registered with the FIA’s Counter-Terrorism Wing in Islamabad, it transpired that Imran Khan, Qureshi and their associates were involved in communicating information contained in the cipher telegram received from Washington DC, USA on March 7, 2022 to unauthorized persons by “twisting facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the state security”.

It further stated that the suspects held a meeting at Bani Gala on March 28, 2022, to conspire to misuse the cypher to accomplish their nefarious designs.

The suspect Imran Khan, the FIR further states, malafidely directed his then principal secretary Azam Khan to prepare the minutes of that meeting by manipulating the contents of the cipher to “use it for his vested interests at the cost of national safety”.

Moreover, the numbered and accountable copy of the cypher telegram sent to the PM House was deliberately kept in his custody with “malafide intention”, and never returned to the Foreign Ministry.

It alleged that the cipher is still in the illegal possession of Imran Khan, adding that the unauthorised retention and misuse of the document by the suspects compromised the entire cyber security system of the state and secret communication method of Pakistan’s missions abroad.

The actions of the suspects directly/indirectly benefited the interests of foreign powers and caused a loss to the state.

The case against Imran Khan and Qureshi has been registered over wrongful use of official secret information and illegal retention of cipher telegram with malafide intention.

The FIR added that the role of Azam Khan, Asad Umar and other associates will be determined during the investigation.

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Another woman arrested for torturing housemaid in Islamabad

By

Sara Maqsood

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August 17, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Another case of torture of a 13-year-old house maid Andaleeb Fatima surfaced in G-15 sector of the federal capital. The employer was arrested.

According to the Islamabad Police, a woman was arrested on the allegations of the mother of the housemaid. The accused, who is reportedly associated with an online business firm, was produced in the court of a magistrate and sent to Adiala Jail on judicial remand.

The Tarnol police have registered a case against the woman on charges of 328-A (cruelty to a child), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

According to the FIR, Andaleeb Fatima had been working as a housemaid for the last one month at the residence of the accused woman. On August 16, her mother Khalida came to Islamabad from Chiniot to see her after she did not answer her telephone calls.

Khalida saw torture marks on Andaleeb’s body. She told her that her employer used to beat her and torture her with a hot spoon.

The employer locked them in a room, compelling them not to speak against her. Later, she allowed them to leave the house without paying salary.

The girl has been shifted to the hospital for medical examination, the report of which is still awaited.

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Hepatitis cases soar to 3.9m in Punjab; 62% spread by repeated use of syringes

By

Asifa Farhat

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August 17, 2023

LAHORE: In a concerning development, the number of Hepatitis patients in Punjab has skyrocketed to over 3.9 million, underscoring a growing health crisis that demands immediate attention.

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis.

Official documents have revealed that out of the 217 clinics across the province, only a mere 23 have access to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test facilities, a crucial tool for accurate hepatitis diagnosis, with less than 11 per cent of clinics equipped with this.

According to reports, more than 981,000 PCR tests for Hepatitis have been administered thus far.

Perhaps the most alarming discovery from the documents is that a significant 62 per cent of the disease’s transmission is attributed to the repeated use of syringes.

Among the most affected are patients grappling with Hepatitis C, with more than 76,000 reported cases in Punjab. Hepatitis C is notorious for its ability to evolve into a chronic condition, leading to severe liver damage if left untreated.

This is compounded by recent screening data, which has unveiled an unsettling 138,000 cases of Hepatitis B. This number is a startling contrast to the previously registered four lakh cases of hepatitis B and C.

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