Epaper_23-10-14 LHR

PM RULES OUT POSSIBILITY OF HOLDING TALKS WITH TTP In partnership with

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Saturday, 14 October, 2023 I 27 Rabi ul Awwal, 1445

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SAYS STATE IS CAPABLE ENOUGH TO COMBAT OUTLAWED GROUP NOT FOR A YEAR BUT CENTURY

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PESHAWAR

DEBUNKS ANY NOTION OF REGISTERED AFGHAN REFUGEES BEING EXPELLED FROM PAKISTAN

STAFF REPORT

ARETAKER Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday unequivocally ruled out any possibility of negotiations with the outlawed Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP), saying that Pakistani nation is resolute in its capacity to combat the ‘miscreants’ for the long haul.

“Definitely without any doubt, I will place my faith in the state’s counter-terrorism strategy as I know that the nation is resolute in its capacity to combat the group for the long haul”, Interim PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar declared while addressing a delegation from the Peshawar Chamber of Commerce during his visit to the provincial capital of KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KP) on Friday.

During a media interaction flanked by Caretaker KP Chief Minister Azam Khan and Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, the premier firmly stated, “The state of Pakistan is so potent that it can combat the TTP, not just for a year, but for a century.”

Responding to inquiries about the obstacles hindering talks with the TTP, Prime Minister Kakar made it clear, “We don’t want to engage in dialogue with them. We have no intention of doing so.”

The PM also debunked any notions

of registered Afghan refugees being expelled from Pakistan, emphasising that only undocumented foreigners living in the country were asked to depart. These measures, according to Kakar, aim to establish international-standard relations with Afghanistan, ensuring that the movement of people is contingent upon proper visa issuance.

He underscored that the expulsion of illegal residents is not driven by

No compromise after expiry of deportation deadline, Bugti warns illegal immigrants ISLAMABAD

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vengeance but is a step toward ridding the nation of individuals contributing to social ills in the form of crime and terrorism.

Regarding the fate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif on his return to the country, Kakar reiterated that the government would adhere to the law.

When questioned about elections, he affirmed that the caretaker setup would cooperate with the Election Commission of

Pakistan’s decision on the final poll date.

Speaking on the economic situation, Prime Minister Kakar asserted that the depreciation of the dollar had reduced the country’s loans by Rs4,000 billion, impacting the prices of essential commodities such as petroleum products, sugar, and ghee.

He lamented the lack of attention given to these efforts to provide relief to the people. Kakar also assured that all political parties registered with the Election Commission would be allowed to participate in the electoral process, with the PM Office available to address any grievances.

Revisiting his memories of alma mater Kohat Cadet College and his time in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the prime minister, who wore the traditional turban of Pashtun culture, praised the people of Peshawar as unique, hardworking, and courageous, reflecting their sacrifices against terrorism.

This visit to Peshawar marks Prime Minister Kakar’s first since taking office, and he pledged to address the business community’s concerns through dialogue while commending his cabinet as “capable and dedicated” individuals serving the nation within their mandate. The PM also took the time to listen to the issues raised by the delegation members.

Pakistan, China agree to reduce ML-1 project cost to $6.678bn g

MODIFICATIONS TO PROJECT ARE SET TO HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN MAJOR CITIES PROFIT

Pakistan and China are set to sign an agreement during the third Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum in Beijing, which will result in a substantial reduction of $ 3.18 billion in the cost of Pakistan’s groundbreaking Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, the sources told.

Under the terms of the newly proposed agreement, the estimated cost of the ML-1 project will be scaled down from its original budget of $9.85 billion to a rationalized and agreed-upon cost of $6.678 billion. This financial rationalization has been conducted within the framework of the CPEC agreement, particularly under Article 10, which was initially signed in 2017 and recently renewed after five years.

The ML-1 project, often touted as Pakistan’s first-ever state-ofthe-art railway initiative, will retain its ambitious scope of work, featuring a 1,726 km long track that can facilitate speeds of up to 140 km per hour. This comprehensive upgrade will encompass the construction of 2,096 bridges and culverts, installing 1,300 km of fencing, and incorporating 165/631-grade separation, all de-

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The Supreme Court (SC) declared on Friday professional tax levied by Cantonment Board Karachi unconstitutional, disposing off the board’s plea challenging the Sindh High Court’s order.

A three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa was hearing the Cantonment Board’s plea.

During the hearing, the CJP observed that taxes levied by the Cantonment Board are both unconstitutional and in contradiction with transparency.

The land given to the cantonment board was given to the military for a specific purpose, why are shopping malls being built there, asked the CJP, observing that it was not meant for commercial purposes.

Institutions are being brought to their constitutional purpose, he remarked, disposing off the plea challenging the receipt of taxes from restaurants, banks and poultry farms by the board.

At the previous hearing, the CJP had noted that only the federal and provincial governments could impose taxes.

He had questioned how a cantonment board could impose tax on professionals.

The additional attorney general of Pakistan had replied that the local government was also an elected body and authorized to impose taxes.

At which the CJP had inquired whether if a tax was imposed on lawyers would it be collected by a local body.

Meanwhile, Justice Athar Minallah had pointed out that the objection was that the local government could not impose tax under Article 163 of the Constitution.

The CJP had remarked that the court could not ignore the Constitution, and asked how the authority to collect taxes could be given to someone else.

Saudi Arabia identifies 12,000 Afghans traveling on fake Pakistani passports

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Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti Friday warned illegal immigrants in Pakistan to leave the country by the November 1 deportation deadline or the state would show "no compromise" in taking action against them. The interim government had earlier this month ordered all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million Afghan nationals, to leave the country or face expulsion after revealing that 14 of 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals. "In the meetings about the expulsion of Afghan refugees, all stakeholders were present. In that meeting, it was decided that a grace period should be given them," the minister said in a statement, claiming that some people also told authorities that some immigrants wished to return voluntarily.

The interim security czar reiterated that the policy to expel illegal immigrants was not restricted to Afghan nationals, but all those who do not have the required documentation for residing in Pakistan.

"People, no matter which nationality they belong to, will not be troubled if they have a valid visa and other required documentation. We're just [planning to] expel illegal immigrants," he added.

Thousands of Afghan nationals have started leaving Pakistan after the government announced the deadline, with some citing economic conditions behind their decision to leave. The decision to ask illegal immigrants to leave is closely tied to the escalating violence in the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, and the growing tension between the Pakistani government and the Taliban administration in Kabul, according to experts and officials.

CJP terms professional tax levied by cantonment board unconstitutional

signed to create a modern and efficient rail system.

Crucially, these modifications to the project are set to directly impact travel times between major cities.

Once completed, the railway will facilitate a journey of 17 hours and 15 minutes between Karachi and Peshawar, promoting rapid and efficient cross-country transportation.

Furthermore, the financial adjustments will specifically reduce costs for various sections of the ML-1 railway, including the Karachi-Multan, Multan-Lahore, Lahore-Rawalpindi, Kalowal-Pindora, and Rawalpindi-Peshawar stretches. The revised project’s timeline is set for completion within nine years, with a total proj-

ect lifespan of 30 years, mirroring the original design’s objectives.

The decision to update and rationalize the ML-1 project’s cost was a result of extensive discussions between Pakistani and Chinese authorities. The recent meeting of CPEC’s Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) in May served as a platform for these crucial deliberations.

The project leaders have also indicated their commitment to addressing critical aspects of the railway, including level crossings.

Importantly, existing bridges over rivers will not be replaced but instead strengthened through additional work, thereby extending their lifespan by up to 30 years.

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Over 12,000 Afghans have been found traveling on fake Pakistani passports, prompting the Ministry of Interior to form a high-level committee to investigate the matter and take action against those involved.

According to media reports, Saudi Arabia has identified 12 thousand Afghans traveling on Pakistani passports, on which the Ministry of Interior has formed a high-level committee to investigate the matter by taking action on the issuance of fake passports to more than twelve thousand Afghans.

The committee, which includes representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, FIA, and sensitive agencies, will identify those issuing fake passports and prepare a list of those involved, following which action will be taken against all such elements.

Sources said that Pakistani passports have been issued to Afghans from passport centers across the country.

The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released soon.

Thousands flee North Gaza as Israel braces for ground offensive amid air strikes GAZA

AGENCIES

Thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza in search of refuge on Friday after Israel warned them to evacuate before an expected ground offensive against Hamas in retaliation for the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.

The Hamas, however, rejected the call and its official said the Gaza relocation warning was “fake propaganda” and urged citizens not to fall for it. The Palestinian envoy to Japan said the Israelis were seeking to completely destroy Gaza.

Israel’s military on Friday called for all civilians of Gaza City, more than 1 million people, to relocate south within 24 hours, as it amassed tanks near the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion.

The Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people, is under siege by Israel, which has pounded ‘Hamas targets’ in the enclave and killed more than 1,500 Palestinians in brutal reprisal attacks since the weekend incursions.

“Now is a time for war,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday as Israeli warplanes continued pounding Gaza in retaliation for the weekend attack by Hamas.

The Israeli military said it would operate “significantly” in Gaza City in the coming days and civilians would only be able to re-

turn when another announcement was made.

“Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields,” the military said in a statement.

The United Nations said evacuating everyone was impossible with power supplies cut and food and water in the Palestinian enclave running short after a week of retaliatory air strikes and a full Israeli blockade. It added that it considered it impossible for such a movement of people to take place “without devastating humanitarian consequences.”

On the other hand, the Israeli military said its ground forces made raids into Gaza over the past 24 hours. “Over the past 24 hours, IDF (Israeli military) forces carried out localised raids inside the territory of the Gaza Strip to complete the effort to cleanse the area of terrorists and weaponry,” an army statement said.

“During these operations, there was also an effort to locate missing persons,” it added.

In the latest development, a Reuters journalist was killed and six others from AFP, Reuters and Al Jazeera were wounded while working in southern Lebanon, the three news organisations said.

A group of journalists from different media outlets were near Alma al-Shaab close

to the border with Israel when they were caught up in cross-border shelling, one of the two wounded AFP correspondents said.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed,” Reuters said in a statement, adding he “was part of a Reuters crew in southern Lebanon”. AFP photographer Christina Assi was with her AFP colleague video journalist Dylan Collins working in the area. Both were taken to a hospital in Tyre for treatment.

Two other Reuters reporters, “Thaer AlSudani and Maher Nazeh also sustained injuries and are seeking medical care,” Reuters said in a statement, adding it was “urgently seeking more information”.

Al-Jazeera said two of their reporters were among the wounded, blaming “Israeli bombing on their vehicle”. They named them as Carmen Joukhadar and Elie Brakhya. Nearly 1,800 Gazans — including over 580 children — have been killed in waves of missile strikes on the densely populated enclave, the Palestinian health ministry said.

According to Israel, Hamas took an estimated 150 Israeli, foreign and dual-national hostages back to Gaza during its initial attack.

Hamas said today that 13 hostages had been killed in Israeli air strikes. It has previously said four hostages died in bombardments, com-

plicating any Israeli ground offensive.

Tensions meanwhile rose across the Middle East and beyond, with protests in support of the Palestinians, while Israel faced the threat of a separate confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In the occupied West Bank, at least nine Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire during protests supporting Gaza, taking the toll there to 44 since Saturday, the health ministry said. The Israeli military has warned it would operate “significantly” in Gaza City

in the coming days and civilians would only be able to return when another announcement was made.

“Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields,” the military said in a statement.

“Hamas terrorists are hiding in Gaza City inside tunnels underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent Gazan civilians.”

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DENYING RIGHT OF PEACEFUL PROTESTS TO ‘MOST POPULAR PARTY’ SHAMEFUL, REPREHENSIBLE: PTI NEWS

Calls upon ECP to shun biased approach, provide level playing field to all parties

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Saturday, 14 October, 2023 | LAHORE

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

AKISTAN Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lashed out at the authorities for their doubled-standards as on one hand the mini, unpopular and people-rejected political parties were allowed to hold public gatherings everywhere in the country while on the other the most popular and the only federal political party was even

prevented to hold peaceful demonstrations in support of their Palestinian brothers in this testing time.

PTI spokesperson strongly condemned the administration for denying permission to the party to organize peaceful gatherings to express solidarity with the besieged people of Palestine, which, he said, was shameful and reprehensible.

He warned that the history would not forgive those who forget the principled stand of the Quaid-e-Azam on Israel and remain

silent against Israeli aggression and brutality out of fear of their foreign masters.

PTI spokesperson expressed his shock that the political party, which was the only most effective voice to express solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian brothers, was being targeted for revenge on political grounds.

He made it clear that the people of Pakistan were in great pain due to Israeli unleashed reign of terror on innocent and oppressed Palestinians.

PTI Spokesperson underlined that it was the constitutional right of every citizen and party to raise their voice in support of the oppressed Palestinians and no one can deprive them of their constitutional and fundamental right.

He said that all the unpopular and mini political parties have enjoyed all the freedom to organize rallies and gatherings at any place in the country but only PTI was deprived of this constitutional and legal right.

PTI spokesperson said that not allowing the country’s largest party to show support for the Muslims was a clear manifestation of fear and frustration of the senseless rulers.

He urged that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should immediately shun the biased and prejudiced approach and ensure the protection of fundamental rights by providing level playing field to all political parties as per the constitution.

PTI spokesperson requested that the Chief Justice of Pakistan should take notice of denying the largest political party the right to hold peaceful public gatherings and seek an answer from those responsible.

However, he made it clear that despite all unconstitutional and undemocratic tactics, the Pakistani nation stood with the people of Palestine in this trying time and would continue their political, moral and diplomatic supports.

179 people behind bars across Pakistan on blasphemy charges: Senate body told Court summons Pervaiz Elahi for Oct 23 LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

A special court in Lahore on Thursday summoned PTI President Peraiz Elahi for October 23 in connection with a money laundering case. It also ordered relevant authorities to ensure that the former Punjab chief minister is presented in the court on that day. Special Court (Central) Judge Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh issued this order during proceedings of the case, registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against Elahi and his son, former federal minister Moonis Elahi. During the hearing, a counsel appeared on behalf of Moonis and submitted his power of attorney. He requested the court to avoid taking any strict measure against his client till he or his representative appears in the court. However, the court observed that appearance of an accused was mandatory in criminal cases. He directed the counsel to ensure that Moonis Elahi attends the next hearing. Meanwhile, the court issued nonbailable arrest warrants for another accused Amir Sohail over non-appearance in the matter. On June 20, the FIA filed charges of money laundering and suspicious transactions against the former Punjab chief minister and his son. Elahi has been involved in several legal cases over the past four months, resulting in his release and rearrest multiple times.

Court orders release of arrested teachers LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

The District Court of Kachhari on Friday in Lahore has ordered the release of the teachers who were arrested during a protest outside the civil secretariat yesterday. Judicial Magistrate Imran Abid heard the request of the police and rejected their request for a ten-day physical remand. The court discharged the arrested teachers from the case. The teachers were arrested along with more than 100 other civil servants who were protesting in support of their demands. The protesters were demanding that the deduction in the loan encashment should be abolished, disparity allowance of employees should be restored and contract employees should be made permanent. The protesters had staged a sit-in at Civil Secretariat Chowk for the third day when they were arrested by the police. Punjab Teachers Union General Secretary Rana Liaquat condemned the arrests of peaceful employees and said that the government resorted to extreme tactics. He demanded the immediate release of the arrested teachers and warned that the employees will continue the protest until their demands are accepted.

The protest sit-in by non-teaching staff including teachers of the Punjab Education Department is still continuing at Civil Secretariat Chowk. The protesters have announced that they will continue protesting until their demands are approved.

Pak-China companies join hands to develop new building materials ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

A Pakistani delegation led by Shahid Firoz, representative of Pakistan Arfeen Group and vice chairman of Belt and Road Development Company, recently paid a visit to the Hydro-Blok Company in Guangzhou, China, and had an indepth discussion on deepening China-Pakistan cooperation in building material industry. Chen Yuwei, chairman of Hydro-Blok Company, accompanied the delegation to visit the workshops and display areas of the company, showing the key technologies, Gwadar Pro reported. “Our core product polymerized quartz board, with characters including waterproof, heat insulation, zero deformation and environmental protection, etc, is widely used in prefabricated buildings worldwide,” introduced Chen Yuwei.

Shahid Firozn presented Arfeen’s achievements in green building and its subsidiary company Envicrete, one of the largest manufacturers of precast concrete products in Pakistan. “HydroBlok Company has rich experience and expertise in new building materials. I look forward to making greater contributions to the construction industry of China and Pakistan together with them.” Shahid Firozn said, expressing his expectation of the cooperation.

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights was informed on Friday that 179 people were under detention and facing trials across the country on charges of blasphemy, while 17 had been sentenced.

The findings were submitted to the Senate panel by the National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (NHRC).

Last month, Senator Walid Iqbal, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, had sought details of blasphemy cases from the NCHR during a meeting that was called days after the Jaranwala incident, when a violent mob destroyed dozens of houses and churches over allegations of blasphemy.

“If the law was used against Muslims, then details on this should also be provided,” he said.

The committee had also adopted a recommendation to constitute a national coordination committee within the Ministry of Human Rights to draft standard operating procedures for “effective control on issues that cause suffering to minorities”.

In a report submitted to the committee today, the NHRC said a total of 179 people in the country were under arrest on blasphemy charges.

Breaking down the figures by provinces, the report indicated that 17 people were detained in Islamabad, 18 in Punjab, 78 in Sindh, 55 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one in Balochistan.

The report also mentioned that 17 persons had been convicted so far of which 11 were from Islamabad, four

from Sindh and 2 from Balochistan. No conviction was made from Punjab and KP, according to the report.

Senator Iqbal said the committee had initially sought comprehensive information from the NCHR, but the commission only managed to provide a one-page report.

“In our next meeting, we will seek more extensive details from the commission, including a more thorough overview of the total number of cases mentioned,” he said. Senator Iqbal voiced concerns about the exploitation of blasphemy laws for “settling personal scores”.

He stated that the committee would also investigate ways to prevent the misuse of laws, adding that Senator Sherry Rehman would be invited to discuss ways to prevent the misuse of laws. He noted that a bill previously introduced by the PPP senator on blasphemy laws would also be examined.

Nawaz Sharif all set to land in Lahore on Oct 21 noon LAHORE

LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s flight will land in Lahore in the noon on October 21 and the party has finalized all arrangements to accord historic welcome to its leader on return to the country.

Nawaz Sharif left London on Wednesday and reached Saudi Arabia where he performed Umrah. Hussain Nawaz, son of former premier, Nasir Janjua, Rashid Nasrullah and others also performed Umrah with Nawaz Sharif who landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday night. Sources said that Nawaz Sharif would start important meetings with top Saudi officials including the Saudi royal family from Saturday. He will then travel to Dubai.

According to details, the former premier will land at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport on October 21 (Saturday).

“Umeed-e-Pakistan” flight will take off from UAE at 8:30am and reach the provincial capital at 12:30pm.

In this flight, more than 150 passengers will travel along with the PML-N leader including party members and journalists. The special flight will land in Islamabad from Dubai before proceeding to Lahore, where Nawaz will address the gathering arranged by his party faithful.

The former prime minister arrived in London nearly four yeas ago in November 2019 in an air ambulance to seek medical treatment for multiple diseases after he was allowed

Staff RepoRt

to leave Pakistan by the Lahore High Court. He was accompanied by his brother Shehbaz Sharif and a personal physician as he was taken to his London residence at Avenfield apartments.

Nawaz had arrived in London for a few weeks only and he has been getting regular medical check-ups at the Harley Street clinic. He decided not to return to Pakistan and initiated his speeches to party workers from London and has been conducting party affairs ever since from here. This is Nawaz’s second exile term after first being deposed in a bloodless military coup in 1999.

FIA issues Interpol Red Notices for arrest of model Sophia Mirza, sister LONDON

NewS DeSk

The Pakistan government has issued Interpol Red Notices against former model and actress Sophia Mirza (Khushbakht Mirza) and her sister Mariam Mirza.

Both Sophia and Mariam have been living in London for the last several months after cases were registered against them in Pakistan by Umar Farooq Zahoor, the Dubai-based businessman who has two teenage daughters with Sophia Mirza and both have been in a long-running dispute over the children’s custody.

The Red Notices have been issued by the Ministry of Interior through the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) – issuance of Red Notices against the accused (fugitives) – against Sophia Mirza under Notice number 2023/66146 and Mariam Mirza under notice number 2023/66156.

The FIA’s relevant director writes in the notice: “I am directed to convey approval of the competent authority i.e.

Special Secretary, MOI for the issuance of red notices against the accused persons namely Khushbakht Mirza and Mariam Mirza involved in FIR No.156/23, dated 17.05.2023 u/s 420/468/471/385/386/389/500/506 PPC, Police Station Secretariat, District Islamabad.”

The FIA’s notice adds: “It is requested that Secretary General, INTERPOL Secretariat, Lyon, France may please be requested for the issuance of Red Notices against the accused Khushbakht Mirza and Mariam Mirza to arrest them through INTERPOL.” The Red Notice for Interpol relate to a criminal complaint Mr Zahoor registered in May this year in

Protests against privatization of schools, amends in service rules spread across Punjab Punjab police have intensified crackdown on teachers and government employees amid swelling protests across Punjab against amendments in leave encashment and pension rules, besides privatisation policy of public schools, arresting more than 100 public servants including teachers. In Lahore, the police conducted a crackdown on government employees including teachers protesting outside the Civil Secretariat to press the provincial government for accepting their demands and arrested over 100 people. In Faisalabad, protesters pelted stones on police party. The law enforcers resorted to teargas shelling Protests were also held in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Mian Channu by teachers. In Hafizabad, students also participated along with teachers to give vent to their anger against arrests of teachers’ representatives. After protest demonstrations, police booked 125 students, two headmasters and several teachers for blocking motorway. In Arifwala, teachers took out rallies in favour of their demands. In this regard, there is no class work in the educational institutions for the last three days. Teachers locked their classrooms in Pattoki to show their displeasure and concern over amendments in leave enchasment and gratuity rules. They also demanded of the government to release the teachers representatives. In Gujranwala, teaching staff after locking the classrooms boycotted the curricular activities. Male and female teachers gathered outside the deputy commissioner office and held protest demonstration. Thousands of male and female teachers from across the district are taking part in the protest. Teachers representatives have demanded of the government to withdraw amendments in the leave enchashment and pension rules (service rules), stop privatisation of government schools and give them the group insurance on retirement.

Lahore DC refuses permission to PTI for public rally at Liberty Chowk LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Islamabad against the former accountability minister Shehzad Akbar, model Sophia Mirza, her tennis player sister Mariam Mirza and others for registering false and vindictive cases against him in the summer of 2020 – when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) was in power. The complaint was registered under Sections 420, 468, 471, 385, 386, 389, 500 and 506 of PPC 1860, for cheating, preparation of forged documents, extortion of money, defamation and criminal intimidation.

As per the story of FIR, an inquiry No. 72/20 against Umar Farooq Zahoor and others was initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Corporate Crime Circle (CCC) Lahore in May 2020 by treating an application submitted by his ex-wife Khushbakht Mirza as a source report. It further revealed that the persons nominated in FIR acted in connivance to extort money from Umar Farooq Zahoor by registration of false cases against him at FIA Corporate Crime Circle Lahore.

The FIR application in particular mentions the role of Shehzad Akbar who used the cabinet to run a campaign

against Umar Farooq Zahoor. The FIR says: “After the registration of the aforesaid criminal cases, Mr. Shehzad Akbar the then Special Advisor to Prime Minister (PM) on Accountability, for illegal monetary gains, fraudulently obtained approval from the Cabinet under Section 188 CrPC 1898 by concealing the fact that the cases have already been closed at Switzerland and Norway. The Applicant joined the investigation in the year 2023 and the Joint Investigation Team constituted for the investigation of the FIR No.36/20 and 40/20 after a thorough investigation reached to a conclusion that the allegations in the aforesaid FIRs are false, frivolous and concocted.

Subsequently, the JIT FIA with the approval of the Board, submitted a Cancellation Report under Section 173 CrPC before the Competent Courts in both the FIRs. The Learned Court accepted the Cancellation Reports and allowed the cancellation of FIRs No. 36/20 and 40/20 vide Orders dated 29.04.2023 and 11.05.2023 respectively.”

The office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lahore refused to allow the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) hold a public rally at Liberty Chowk of the metropolis. The DC office submitted its reply in the Lahore High Court (LHC) hearing a petition filed the PTI seeking to hold a rally at Liberty roundabout. “A meeting of all the departments concerned was held on October 10. The PTI workers and leaders were found involved in vandalism during its protest on May 9,” the DC office said in its reply submitted to the LHC. Therefore, the District Intelligence Committee refused to grant an NOC to the PTI for holding a power show at Liberty roundabout. Earlier, LHC Justice Raheel Kamran had conducted hearing of the PTI plea requesting for permission to hold a rally at Liberty Chowk.

During the proceedings, court inquired from the Punjab government about the issue and asked why the permission had not been granted so far. In case of refusing the PTI to hold a rally, the court directed, the DC will have to elaborate the reasons behind the refusal. It is worth mentioning here that additional secretary general PTI central Punjab had approached the Lahore High Court seeking permission to hold party’s rally at Liberty Chowk on October 15.

THOUSANDS TAKE TO STREETS TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIAN BRETHREN Saturday, 14 October, 2023 | LAHORE

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ISLAMABAD/LAHORE Staff RepoRt

UNDREDS of Pakistanis took to the streets in several parts of the country today to protest Israel’s siege and fierce bombing on the Gaza Strip, demanding an end to the oppression of the Palestinian people.

Gaza is being bombed by the Israeli military after the Hamas group launched a surprise offensive on Saturday. Israel has put Gaza — home to 2.3 million people — under siege while local authorities said more than 1,500 Palestinians had been killed.

It has vowed to annihilate Hamas but a ground invasion of Gaza poses serious risk with Hamas holding scores of hostages kidnapped in the assault. Public broadcaster Kan said the Israeli death toll had risen to more than 1,300.

After Israel’s military called for all civilians of Gaza City — more than one million people — to relocate south within 24 hours on Friday, the UN urged Tel Aviv to

call off the order, warning of the “devastating humanitarian consequences”.

Israeli attacks on Gaza have prompted protests in Paris, New York, Jordan, Morocco, Iraq and Iran among others.

After Friday prayers, Pakistanis from all walks of life held rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Punjab.

The demonstrators raised Palestinian flags and held posters that said ‘From land to the sea, Palestine will be free’ and ‘Stand in solidarity with Palestine’. They also burned Israeli flags.

LAHORE In Lahore, a huge rally was held at Mall Road by the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, with scores of women and children in attendance while Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan and other religious and political parties also held rallies to express solidarity with Palestinian brethren. A large number of people from all walks of life attended these rallies and condemned Israeli aggression against innocent civilians. The protesters carried a giant flag of Palestine.

Addressing the gathering, JI Emir Sirajul Haq criticised the US and European countries for supporting Israel in its oppression of Palestinians. He demanded that Muslim countries should come together for the Palestinian cause. “Raising our voices for Palestinians is the responsibility of Muslims and a part of their faith,” he added.

On the other hand, the PTI claimed that party members who had taken to the streets in Lahore were arrested by the police.

KARACHI Several protests were held in Karachi after Friday prayers to express solidarity with Palestinians.

More than 200 supporters of the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) gathered in the Kharadar area. They demanded that the atrocities being faced by the people of Gaza at the hands of Israel should immediately come to an end. In a statement earlier, it said the protest was “against the massacre of the oppressed Palestinian people and the Zionist occupation of the Palestine land”.

Separately, the JI held a solidarity walk from the Maripur Road. The demonstrators would cross Keamari Road and finally conclude the rally outside Bilawal House.

In Malir, JUI-F supporters took to the streets. The party demanded that Muslim world leaders should “break the chains of silence” and speak up for their brothers and sisters, according to a statement.

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA In KP, protest rallies were also held in the Malakand and Hazara divisions against Israeli atrocities in Gaza Palestine.

The Karakoram Highway was blocked in Kohistan and a rally was staged against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The protesters demanded that the United Nations stop the genocide of Palestinians. Protester Shahid Husain, 47, said the leaders of Muslim nations were failing to stand up for Palestinians. “We came to the streets to make our rulers realise that they don’t need to be scared of the US and that the public wants them to be on the side of Palestine — not Israel and America,” he told AFP from

Hurriyat parties concerned over prevailing grim situation in IIOJK SRINAGAR

Staff RepoRt

The Hurriyat parties have urged the world human rights organizations to take cognizance of the Indian state terrorism and gross human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) leader Advocate Arshad Iqbal in a statement in Srinagar said the killing of Kashmiri youth in fake encounters has become a

routine matter for the Indian forces’ personnel. Terming it a sheer frustration on the part of the Indian government, he said that the Narendra Modi-led communal regime, which has miserably failed to suppress the freedom sentiments and resistance of the people, is now resorting to brutality and barbarism to inflict misery on the people through rampant killings of innocent youth.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Front leader Sahfiq-ul-Haq said the youth of Kashmir who have been at the forefront of the resistance movement are rendering matchless sacrifices in the

Arrest of peaceful protestors shameful: PTI ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly condemned the use of state machinery and unlawful detentions of peaceful protesters in various parts of the country, expressing solidarity and support for the war-ravaged and besieged Palestinians. The PTI spokesperson termed the use of state machinery against the peaceful protestors as shameful. He expressed his surprise that the citizens were being arrested for their sole crime to express solidarity and support for the oppressed Palestinians. PTI spokesperson contended that there was no justification of the presence of police mobiles and prisoner vans at the PTI-designated places for peaceful protests. He lamented that undoubtedly, it was the continuation of the state coercive policy based on political revenge, which was lasting for the last 17 months. PTI spokesperson said that the citizens have been deprived of their personal freedom by suspending the constitution and democracy in the country, adding that the rulers imposed on the country should be ashamed of arresting those protesting in favor of the

ongoing struggle for achieving freedom from Indian illegal occupation.

Referring to the grim situation prevailing in the occupied territory, he said continued bloodshed, killings, and arbitrary arrests of common people by Indian troops and police have exposed the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s normalcy narrative in IIOJK. Terming the house raids a naked aggression and violation of the international covenants, he said that the BJP Hindutva regime has utterly failed to suppress the freedom sentiments and resistance of the people, despite using all

means of oppression and suppression.

Tehreek-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Chairman Fayaz Hussain Jaferi and Pairwan-e-Wilayat patron Syed Sibte Shabir Qummir in a joint statement issued in Srinagar said that Indian state terrorism, its war crimes and human rights violations had made life a hell for the oppressed Kashmiris.

They maintained that the Modi regime, instead of implementing the UNSC resolutions, was trying to stifle the voice of Kashmiri people through the use of brute force and employing settler colonialism in the territory.

Striving to bring Turkiye-Pakistan closer to each other: Dr. Kamal ANKARA

Staff RepoRt

Head of World Aging Council and Ibn Sina Institute, Turkiye and Europe Dr Kamal Aydin, appointed President TurkishPakistan Women’s Wing Forum Shabana Ayez as his Media Coordinator and Representative Public Relations and said we want to work in coordination with Pakistan and other Islamic countries in the education and health sectors.

He said that he had got his medical education and spent enough time in Pakistan and owed a great deal to this country.

He said that he was striving to bring both the Islamic countries closer to each other to further boost sentiments of brotherhood among people of both the countries.

Speaking on the occasion, news appointed media coordinator Shabana Ayaz said that she feel proud of becoming media coordinator of the world body. She

said that put here all efforts to promote the cause of the World Aging Council and also help explore new avenues in the fields of health and education.

BJP regime seals Srinagar Jamia Masjid, places Mirwaiz under house arrest SRINAGAR

Staff RepoRt

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Hindutva regime has sealed the historical Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Anjuman Auqaf of the Jamia Masjid in a statement issued in Srinagar said Indian police officials of the BJP regime have closed the gates of the Masjid.

The police authorities have informed the Anjuman Auqaf that Friday prayers would not be allowed, today, in Jamia Masjid, Srinagar.

Meanwhile, the authorities put senior APHC leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest and is not being allowed to come out of his residence in Srinagar. The Indian paramilitary and police personnel were

deployed outside his residence and Jamia Masjid in Srinagar.

Meanwhile, the authorities once

again disallowed Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, today.

Anjuman Auqaf of Jamia Masjid,

Srinagar, in a statement expressed deep regret and surprise over the authorities’ action and said they closed all the doors of the Jamia Masjid since morning and informed the Auqaf administration that Friday prayers will not be offered today.

At the same time, the Auqaf condemned the placing of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest once again after releasing him from detention recently after more than four years.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has once again been chosen to the list of 500 most influential Muslim personalities across the globe by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC), Jordan, for the year 2024 Mirwaiz has been listed among the world’s 500 most influential Muslims and is categorized in the political group for the 10th consecutive year by RISSC, Jordon.

CoPs demands audit of PU accounts, financial statement LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

The Punjab University Council of Professionals (PU-CoPs) general body on Friday strongly censured the PU administration for its flawed administrative, economic, and academic policies that tarnished the hard-earned image of the alma mater and faculty.

The well-attended meeting held at the University Club brainstormed on the key issues faced by the varsity.

The meeting discussed different issues including: Flawed admission

policy, Issues related to delays in salaries and pensions, Delay in research incentive/performance awards and research grants, Withdrawal of vacancies advertisement, Incomplete admissions, Failure to declare BA/Associate Degree result which caused incomplete admissions in semester 5, Town 3 corruption scam, NAB referral of the case to PU admin and its silence over it, AntiCorruption Establishment lodging FIRs, ongoing investigations in various cases, raids on university teachers’ residences, and silence of

NEWS

University Administration.

On the occasion, the PU-CoPs leaders said that the absence of a regular Vice Chancellor’s absence for the past 16 months caused serious financial, academic, and administrative problems. “The incumbent administration neither cut the non-development expenditure nor new resources of revenue generation were generated”, the participants expressed, regretting that rather a new sub-campus of the University was opened merely on a “political basis.”

03

Peshawar’s historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

A bike rally was also held in Parachinar.

Meanwhile, PTI supporters gathered in Kohat, Peshawar, Hangu and several other cities after the party decided to mark today as “Palestine Solidarity Day”.

QUETTA In Quetta, a rally was organised by the JUI-F. During the demonstration, protesters condemned Israel’s “brutal oppression” of the Palestinian people and also burned an Israeli flag.

Protesters burn Israeli flags in Quetta. — Photo courtesy: Abdullah Zehri The rally was led by JUI-F’s regional head Maulana Abdul Rehman. Addressing the participants, he renewed support for the people of Gaza. Similar protests were held by the PML-N, PTI and other local political parties outside the Quetta Press Club. People also took to the streets in Zhob, Jaffarabad and Surab.

ISLAMABAD The Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen also held a rally in the capital city. The demonstrators held banners that said ‘No compromise on Gaza’ and ‘Stop genocide of Palestinians’. A number of PTI protesters also took to the streets. However, the party claimed they were arrested by the police.

Earlier, the PTI said it had sought permission from the Islamabad deputy commissioner to hold a public gathering in front of the National Press Club.

Productivity’ and sustainability next 2 hot topics for agriculture: Panel ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

To mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, a series of events were held on October 12 with the support of KASB KTrade Securities.

This included an agriculture roundtable seminar that brought together experts and practitioners from the industry, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Friday. The experts highlighted various subjects such as the Green Pakistan Initiative, Chinese investments in agri-sectors, and the potential of the dairy industry.The discussion also touched on food security and sustainable agricultural development. Syed Nasir Mahmood, former Inspector General of Forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture, stressed the significance of conserving natural ecosystems and adopting sustainable farming methods. He pointed out that carbon credits, which allow countries to emit a specified amount of carbon dioxide, hold economic potential. Mahmood also touched on the vital roles of biodiversity and forest therapy, proposing that preserving nature could not only provide health advantages but also foster a more robust ecosystem. Furthermore, he called for broad awareness among industries, policy makers, and the general public, emphasizing the alignment of environmental prosperity with financial and economic well-being. Peter Huang, Commercial Head at LTEC International Agriculture Development Co., Ltd., believes that Chinese companies are expected to bring much-needed capital and technological know-how to the Pakistani farming sector. He particularly emphasized the chili industry, discussing their plans to improve farming practices and productivity. “Our goal is to assist Pakistan in exporting high-quality chili, with a value of more than $300 million by 2026.” Huang revealed that currently, he and his company are focusing on providing better seeds, introducing advanced farming practices, and offering necessary training to local farmers. These efforts are expected to boost the yield and quality of the chilis, making them more competitive in the international market.

Maj Gen Tahir Aslam, Managing Director and CEO of FonGrow, noted that Pakistan’s farming practices are currently inefficient, particularly in terms of water and fertilizer usage. He emphasized the need to improve the quality of seeds, introduce efficient farming practices, and leverage technology and data to enhance productivity.

Furthermore, he underscored the necessity for a comprehensive modernization drive within Pakistan’s agricultural landscape. This extends beyond the realm of mere tractorization to encompass the implementation of technologydriven farming models, akin to those successfully employed in countries like the U.S., Canada, and

04 COMMENT

Echoes of a Southern World Order

No hero’s welcome

T

The PML(N) seems a party in disarray

HE PML(N)’s cancellation of rallies in Lahore only occurred because the first two rallies held to whip up support for a huge turnout for party QQuaid Mian Nawaz Sharif’s return did not yield the desired resu;ts. Both illustrated very pointedly the problems the party faces. At Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz’s rally, the turnout was poor. This could be blamed on poor organization, which is a reflection of the fact that the party organization is in poor shape.

Then at the other, party chief and outgoing Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif the windows of his vehicles smashed in. This shows that his year and a half as PM at the head of the coalition that ousted the PTI and its chief, Imran Khan, was wildly unsuccessful in winning public approval.

If Mian Nawaz thinks that he will be welcomed with open arms on October 21, when he is scheduled to return, he should think again. The party organization is in disarray, and may not get as many people to turn up as Mian Nawaz wishes. One reason is that no one knows when elections will take place, with a date not having been announced. That means that the MNAs and MPAs tasked with bringianng a fixed minimum number of people to Lahore are not willing to shell out for the transport and food that even political workers have come to expect as their right from the party. After all, those MNAs or MPAs are either certain of selection, or do not know if they will be reselected. Either way, there is little incentive to spend on the welcome.

Then there is the performance of the PML(N) in government. The economic performance was dismal, mainly because of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The voter knows that Senator Dar was sent by Mian Nawaz to replace Mian Shehbaz’s first choice, Miftah Ismail, and thus the blame for the economic situation will spill over onto Mian Nawaz, especially since he is not proposing any solution. Is the voter to trust Mian Nawaz? There is also the problem that Mian Nawaz is not coming back as some sort of returning hero, but as someone whose party has disaffected its traders’ constituency, where it was strong, but which has been badly hit by the economic crisis, and on top is being asked to pay taxes. Whatever the crowd that goes to the Lahore Airport on October 21, Mian Nawaz will have his work cut out.

De-dollarization is key

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Malik ahMeD rafay

N an age characterized by the economic and political rise of developing economies in the Global South, the BRICS coalition has formidably challenged the Western world order led by the USA. The whispers and stories of the Southern world order with China being a rising challenger can be heard across the parliamentary halls, media, and think tanks.

The widespread economic and political consequences of sanctions imposed by the USA, and its failure to fulfill its commitments of proportional and timely climate financing along with health and food security are sources of disillusionment among developing states that are now jumping on the bandwagon of BRICS. Despite the exclusion of its six expanded members, this economic clout had already surpassed G7 in the global GDP ratio as it accounted for 32% against 30% of G7. This GDP ratio is expected to rise to 50% in 2030.

BRICS nations call for an equitable world order by reforming established international institutions like the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank led by the West. The UNGA on 14 December 2022, adopted a resolution named ‘Towards a New International Economic Order’ which got 123 votes in its favour.

This was a major blow to the politics of the Western bloc as the assembly expressed grave concerns over the rising debt vulnerabilities of developing countries, stringent policies, and conditions set by Western global financial institutions. As a result, it demanded the exploration of new means and instruments that could help to reduce the debt burdens of developing states. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his speech at a recent BRICS summit, advocated for reforms in international institutions to adapt to the changing economic and technological landscape. In verity, he validated the demands of BRICS nations by highlighting the economic and environmental discrimination faced by the African region.

These discontented states of BRICS have made significant progress in achieving the goal of restructuring global institutions while challenging Western dominance. The formation of the National Develop-

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor Umar Aziz M. A. Niazi

ment Bank emulating the model of the World Bank is a notable development in the BRICS journey toward institutional reforms.

NDB provides financing for infrastructure and development projects across the developing nations.

The funding body also seeks to address the borrowing needs of low-income states by granting loans with no particular concerns of exchange rates and conditions like the IMF. Since its inception, it has approved $32 billion for projects of sustainable development and infrastructure across the globe. The bloc members have agreed to create a $100 billion Contingency Reserve Arrangement, foreign currency that they can lend to any member plagued by a financial crisis. Additionally, its $10 billion Emergency Support Fund has significantly supported developing states like South Africa to fight the covid-19 pandemic.

The process of de-dollarization has undeniably commenced, posing a serious threat to the dominance of the US dollar. Leaders of BRICS have issued statements to develop a bloc or reserve currency replacing the US dollar as the main currency for international trade. BRICS nations have already started utilizing their local currencies for their trade and financial payments. In early 2023, even the oil giants like Saudi Arabia, where the dollar ascended its throne, also opened itself for non-dollar trade agreements.

Argentina and Bolivia have initiated settling IMF payments, imports, and exports in yuan as a substitute for already dwindling dollar reserves. The emergence of the Chinese currency in the South American market strengthens their reserve currency narrative while slowly eroding the dollar’s supremacy. In July 2023, India and UAE also signed an agreement to settle oil trade in rupees instead of dollars. Moreover, there is a shred of convincing data evidence that raises the likelihood of BRICS nations adopting the Gold Standard Era of the 18th and 19th centuries.

According to the IMF World Gold Council, China, Singapore, Russia, and Turkey remained the largest purchasers of gold in the opening months of 2023. Conjointly, according to IMF, the Central Banks have witnessed a notable decrease in shares of US dollar reserves. Last but not least, NDB has also

Executive Editor

The Gulf states walk a tightrope

T

Dr MuhaMMaD akraM Zaheer

HE delicate and intricate geopolitics of the Middle East have been a source of global concern for decades and the recent conflict in the region underscores the complex web of alliances, rivalries and interests at play. In the midst of these complexities, the Gulf Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia, find themselves in a challenging position. They are torn between their budding relationships with Israel, their concerns about Iranian influence in the region and the mounting international pressure to support the Palestinian cause.

The Gulf Arab states have, in recent years, taken significant steps towards establishing ties with Israel, exemplified by the Abraham Accords. These agreements signaled a shift in the traditionally frosty relationship between Arab nations and Israel. They were motivated, in part, by a shared interest in countering Iran's expanding influence in the region. As Iran continued to support groups and promote instability, particularly through its backing of organizations like Hamas, the Gulf countries sought to align themselves with a more moderate and technologically advanced partner in Israel. They believed that closer ties with Israel could enhance their security, trade and cooperation with the USA, ultimately making their region more stable.

However, the recent violence in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the conflict between Hamas and the Israeli government, has complicated this dynamic. The Gulf states have found them-

selves in a precarious position. On one hand, they are reluctant to overtly support Israel's actions in Gaza, which they perceive as detrimental to the Palestinian people and as a factor contributing to regional instability. On the other hand, they are equally hesitant to break their burgeoning ties with Israel, which they view as pivotal for their security and economic interests.

The Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, have refrained from taking a definitive stance on the ongoing crisis. They are essentially walking a tightrope, neither fully endorsing the Israeli government's actions nor disavowing their newfound relationships with Israel. Their silence reflects their unwillingness to directly back Israel in a manner that could alienate their Arab and Muslim populations, who remain deeply sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

One of the primary reasons for the Gulf states' hesitancy to align more overtly with Israel lies in their concerns about public opinion.

As the Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, has pursued policies deemed aggressive and unfavourable by a significant portion of the Arab world, including violent actions against Palestinians and hostile rhetoric towards Arabs, public sentiment has grown increasingly hostile towards Israel.

The Gulf nations are not oblivious to this groundswell of anger among their populations and consequently do not wish to be seen as implicitly endorsing such actions. Furthermore, the Gulf Arab states are frustrated with the perceived inaction of their own leadership and Western countries in holding Israeli leaders accountable for their actions. The sense of injustice is palpable among their populations and they expect their governments to advocate for Palestinian rights and interests. Despite these challenges, there is a subtle shift in the Gulf Arab states' disposition towards the Palestinian issue.

They are, to some extent, signaling their support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspirations. This approach helps them maintain a degree of credibility among their populations and demonstrates a willingness to engage with the broader Arab and Muslim world.

However, at the same time, the Gulf States are deeply concerned about the role of Iran in

These countries will continue to tread cautiously, hoping for a swift resolution to the conflict and an Israeli response that minimizes harm to innocent Palestinians. The Gulf Arab states are undoubtedly aware that they must navigate this complex landscape with finesse to safeguard their strategic interests and maintain regional stability Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

issued bonds in African markets denominated by the South African rand, attracting the highest ever 2.67 billion rands of bids. The development body seems not to confine itself to the rand but has also announced to launch an Indian rupee bond this month.

The winds of reform are undeniably blowing with the growing influence of BRICS as it seeks a just and equitable world order. However, it is important to regard that the road to establishing an overarching Southern World Order is replete with complex challenges and unresolved questions.

First, de-dollarization is not an overnight process.

The use of the US dollar remains prevalent in many financial transactions, such as NDB itself having the highest shares of bonds in the US dollar. China’s rising influence in the MENA region (Saudi-Iran rapprochement) has lured Middle Eastern countries to join BRICS to boost their economies. However, the expected normalization of Saudi Arabia and Israel under the shadow of the Abraham Accords negotiated by the US creates a fog of uncertainty in their future foreign policy stance.

Whether Saudi Arabia and UAE would seek an erosion of the US-led Western world order or remain satisfied with the status quo is a major question. Political tensions between India and China are the source of prevailing mistrust as India has also shown reluctance to embrace the expansion of BRICS as it sees the bloc as a mouthpiece for China in the long run. Lastly, India’s pivotal role in the India-Middle East- Europe Corridor can jeopardize the future of BRICS as it aims to counterbalance China’s rise through BRI and BRICS. The writer is a freelance columnist

Whether Saudi Arabia and UAE would seek an erosion of the US-led Western world order or remain satisfied with the status quo is a major question. Political tensions between India and China are the source of prevailing mistrust as India has also shown reluctance to embrace the expansion of BRICS as it sees the bloc as a mouthpiece for China in the long run. Lastly, IndiaÊs pivotal role in the India-Middle EastEurope Corridor can jeopardize the future of BRICS as it aims to counterbalance ChinaÊs rise through BRI and BRICS

Israel-Palestine Conflict and Gulf States Approach Joint Editor

Saturday, 14 October, 2023

Editor’s mail

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Peaceful coexistence

the ongoing conflict. Iran's support for Hamas, which was once connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and is now closely aligned with Iran, poses a significant threat to the stability of the region. For the Gulf Arab nations, who have their own long-standing rivalries with Iran, this is a cause for alarm.

They recognize that escalating tensions with Iran could jeopardize their own national security and the economic growth they have worked hard to achieve. Disrupting the delicate balance between their relationships with Israel and their regional interests is not a risk they are willing to take lightly.

The Gulf Arab states are, therefore, advocating for a pragmatic and measured approach.

They are likely to maintain their silence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the time being, neither condemning nor fully endorsing any party involved. They are cautious about taking sides; as such a stance could disrupt their carefully cultivated relationships and exacerbate regional tensions.

The Biden Administration's role in this delicate equation should not be underestimated.

The USA, while committed to supporting Israel's right to defend itself, also recognizes the need for a lasting and just solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. The Biden Administration will likely engage in diplomatic efforts to encourage the Gulf States to support Israel's position, emphasizing the importance of countering terrorism and instability in the region.

The Gulf Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia, find themselves in a challenging predicament. They are committed to maintaining their growing relationships with Israel, while also being mindful of the political and public sentiment that is increasingly critical of Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories. Simultaneously, they are wary of the Iranian factor and the consequences of a more pronounced rift in the region.

These countries will continue to tread cautiously, hoping for a swift resolution to the conflict and an Israeli response that minimizes harm to innocent Palestinians. The Gulf Arab states are undoubtedly aware that they must navigate this complex landscape with finesse to safeguard their strategic interests and maintain regional stability.

The writer has a PhD in Political Science and can be reached at akramzaheer86@yahoo.com

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Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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EVEN though the district of Kurram is lagging in many facilities, it has a fairly high literacy rate compared to other regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The district has a diverse population with most people living together harmoniously. From time to time, some wayward elements stir tension among the people by exploiting their differences.

This is not only dividing people along religious and ethnic lines but harming the overall development and progress of the district. The municipal authorities are busy with their malpractices and have paid little heed to the escalating situation. The provincial government and the Chief Minister must visit the district and direct law enforcement officials to resolve conflict between locals appropriately. Residents should be encouraged to coexist peacefully and avoid violence and aggression.

KHALID KHAN BANU

Cyber safety

DIGITAL gadgets and social media have become crucial in today’s world as they help us connect with others and stay informed about global affairs.

Despite the numerous benefits of digitalisation and technology, it has several drawbacks and poses new threats and challenges for people.

Cyberbullying and cyber harassment have become increasingly common nowadays as people easily acquire social media users’ data and details through their accounts and online activity, which they then use to exploit, harass, and extort money from vulnerable users. Every now and then, we come across cases of online grooming wherein teenage girls and boys are groomed and then asked to fulfil unusual demands. Similarly, nearly 40% of Pakistani women experience some form of cyber harassment but only 28% of them report them.

KHADIJA ASGHAR TURBAT

Parking facility

A parking facility is a crucial factor when choosing a shopping center.

Availability is important, but the parking experience should also be convenient. People who visit a shopping centre want assurance that they can park their vehicles without any issues. In your shopping mall area, no one can find a safe parking spot during peak hours because the parking facility is only in name. This situation causes significant problems for the common people.

HUMAIR KARACHI

Addressing smoking in Pakistan

THE government of the UK is considering a ban on cigarettes for the next generation, with a proposed law aimed at incrementally raising the smoking age to ultimately prohibit the sale of cigarettes to individuals born after a certain year. New Zealand has already passed such a law, setting a precedent for others to follow. Should Pakistan also consider measures to create a smoke-free generation? The answer is a resounding YES, given the prevalence of smoking and the youth population in the country. However, it’s essential to adopt a multi-faceted approach.

Alongside measures to prevent the younger generation from taking up smoking, Pakistan should also consider tobacco harm reduction strategies. These strategies can help current smokers transition to safer alternatives or quit smoking altogether.

JUNAID ALI KHAN ISLAMABAD

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 05

The Role of Diet and Lifestyle in the Modern Health Crisis

Saturday, 14 October, 2023

Eat right, live right

H

Seerat Fatima

YPERTENSION, formally known as high blood pressure, is a commonly faced medical issue among people across the globe. Hypertension is caused by an increasing force of blood against the arteries, leading to serious health issues. Both systolic (when the heart beats or contracts) and diastolic (when the heart is at rest) numbers need to be monitored.

Regular check-ups are the best way to diagnose hypertension; otherwise, no significant symptoms are observed in hypertensive patients. The risk of hypertension has been found to increase with old age. Many factors can contribute to this, but as the body ages, arteries can become constricted and less flexible, hindering blood flow. An unhealthy lifestyle throughout life can cause serious health issues later in life, prominently including hypertension. Several other diseases such as obesity and diabetes can exacerbate hypertension.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), among adults aged 30 to 70, 1.28 billion are living with hypertension. Approximately 46 percent of adults have hypertension but are unaware and untreated, while 42 percent of adults are receiving treatment for hypertension. This means that one in three adults is suffering from hypertension, and almost 18 percent of adults in Pakistan are coping with hypertension.

Although hypertension can be aggravated by several factors, an unhealthy lifestyle and diet are worth mentioning. A low-sodium diet should be preferred by hypertensive patients because sodium directly influences blood pressure, and its intake must be limited. Patients should avoid foods that contain salt either directly or in-

directly. Processed foods, salty snacks, and seasonal dishes often contain high levels of sodium. It's better to cook food at home rather than purchasing processed food and to add salt carefully. Adopt healthy cooking methods and use natural herbs and spices instead of salt in your food. Choose poultry and fish over processed meats, as they generally have a lower sodium content.

In contrast to sodium, potassium plays a vital role in regulating and lowering blood pressure. Potassium-rich foods are beneficial in a hypertensive patient's diet. Bananas are well-known for their high potassium content and can be included as a snack in a patient's diet. Oranges, a citrus fruit, also contain high levels of potassium and vitamin C. Besides fruits, some vegetables are significant sources of potassium. Potatoes with their skin on are a rich source of potassium. Green leafy vegetables, particularly spinach, contain high potassium content. Tomatoes, which are rich in potassium, are widely used as a food ingredient. Additionally, protein sources like kidney beans, black beans, and lentils are good choices for hypertensive patients as they also contain potassium. Fish not only contain potassium but also healthy fats that support heart health.

Unlike potassium-rich foods, extremely fatty foods have adverse effects on human health and are a primary cause of several diseases, particularly hypertension. A diet rich in saturated fats increases cholesterol levels in our bodies, specifically LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which is considered bad cholesterol.

LDL accumulates in arteries, causing blockages and increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This buildup narrows and hardens blood vessels, making it difficult for them to dilate and contract, ultimately leading to increased blood pressure. Fatty foods also increase blood viscosity, making it harder for blood to flow easily through arteries, causing complications.

Obesity is one of the major causes of hypertension, and the increasing rate of obesity, not only in older individuals but also among younger people, is of concern.

It's worth mentioning that not all fats contribute to health hazards. Some monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats play a crucial role in human health. Foods like avocados, nuts, and fish are rich in unsaturated fats and are essential for maintaining good health, reducing the risk of heart attacks, and managing hypertension.

On the other hand, saturated fats have a detrimental effect on human health. Cheese, in particular, should be avoided by hypertensive patients, as it contains high levels of saturated fat. Additionally, coconut oil and palm oil should be restricted in the diet. Alcohol is detrimental to human health, as high alcohol consumption increases the

West lets Israel get away with genocide

constrict blood vessels, leading to hypertension. Factors such as unemployment, job-related stress, emotional disturbances, financial instability, and the social environment impose significant mental stress on young minds. However, scientific studies have shown that stress may affect a person's mental health temporarily, but it does not cause long-term hypertension. Stress elevates blood pressure temporarily, manifesting hypertension symptoms, but the effect does not persist.

Such aggravated diseases are typically treated with risk of various fatal diseases, including hypertension. Alcohol constricts blood vessels, leading to high blood pres- highly effective medicines and drugs. These drugs are essure. It also acts as a diuretic, increasing urine production sential and become necessary for effective and rapid reand potentially causing dehydration, which leads to a de- covery. However, alternative medical systems offer crease in blood volume and an increase in blood pressure. therapeutic diets that effectively treat adverse conditions.

What's more beneficial for huAlcohol triggers stress hormans is to recover from dismones, such as adrenaline, eases with less pain. Many which can affect blood pressuccessful research studies sure. Moreover, alcohol can been conducted in the lead to weight gain, and indiAs diet plays a pivotal role in recovering have field of medical science to inviduals with higher body and maintaining health, a little troduce better and easier ways weights are more vulnerable to to combat highly adverse dishypertension. It's advisable to carelessness regarding food consumption eases. Regular exercise, a replace alcoholic beverages can lead to highly adverse conditions. A healthy diet, low mental stress, with healthier options like balanced diet can bless you with a healthy and an active lifestyle have herbal teas, including green tea. positive effects on body and mind, while an unbalanced or long-term Smoking is a harmful human health. Humans need to practice that humans engage inadequate dietary regimen can have abandon sedentary lifestyles in, jeopardizing their health. and adopt healthier ones by effects on health.

In short, diet can severe Smoke contains nicotine, making dietary changes.Nawhich explicitly releases be the cause of good health and can also ture has provided us with a stress hormones, including be the cause of illness. It all depends on bounty of blessings. adrenaline, and has a signifiHumans are fortunate to the choices made by individuals in cant impact on heart rate and have found goodness in nablood pressure. Smoking also adopting a healthy and controlled diet ture. Natural foods are availadversely affects the internal able for humans, and nothing lining of arteries (endotheis more beneficial to human lium), reducing its elasticity health than the fruits and vegand size. Narrowed arteries fail to allow blood to flow etables found naturally. Humans should prefer non-harmwith normal pressure, leading to hypertension. Smoke ing and non-invasive therapeutic techniques to maintain contains devastating elements that restrict oxygen access a disease-free and healthy life. A healthy diet recomto body tissues and cells. mended by nutritionists or dieticians plays a primary role Almost every aspect of alcohol and smoking has in the well-being of the body and mind. It not only has proven to be harmful. Hypertensive patients should ab- the power to heal but also provides long-lasting prevenstain from such activities because they prevent the com- tive effects on the body. Without external interference, plete recovery from these fatal diseases. Moreover, if these the body can heal itself without suffering from side efactivities persist, they become chronic. Unfortunately, ap- fects. An effective healing process is observed in patients proximately 13 percent of people in Pakistan are tobacco who opt for a healthy diet and avoid restricted foods as users, with a usage ratio of 11% in rural areas and a com- advised by health consultants.

As diet plays a pivotal role in recovering and mainparatively higher 16% in urban areas. This situation is alarming. Hypertension in young adults is not surprising. taining health, a little carelessness regarding food conWhile the exact reasons for hypertension in youngsters sumption can lead to highly adverse conditions. A are not known, an unhealthy lifestyle, poor dietary balanced diet can bless you with a healthy body and choices, excessive salt intake, alcohol consumption, and mind, while an unbalanced or inadequate dietary regismoking are likely causes. People aged 18 to 30 are suf- men can have severe effects on health. In short, diet can fering significantly from hypertension. If hypertension oc- be the cause of good health and can also be the cause of curs early in life, there is a prominent risk of uncontrolled illness. It all depends on the choices made by individuals high blood pressure later, which can adversely affect body in adopting a healthy and controlled diet. organs, leading to issues such as kidney and heart failure.

The writer can be reached at Stress is a significant cause of hypertension in our society.

Under stress, our nervous system stimulates hormones that fatimaseerat916@gmail.com

As Israel levels Gaza, the US media fuels the fire

Like the French diplomat, hastily recalled to Paris, is supposed to have remarked to a counterpart at a Christmas party in Jerusalem in 2001: “All the trouble in the world for this shitty little country, Israel.” These are dark days indeed

I

ELECTRONIC INTIFADA omar Karmi

T is not just Gaza that is being leveled to the ground. As the world stands aside, preparing to applaud genocide, the entire structure of the so-called post-World War II rulesbased order is being reduced to rubble. What else does it mean when the self-described guarantors of international law in the West – the US, UK and the European Union – have sanctioned what are patent war crimes? What else does it mean when the so-called international community is willing to set aside the rules of war, the rules of occupation and any and every human rights principle, in order to allow Israel to exact revenge?

Make no mistake: what Israel is already doing – cutting off food, electricity, fuel and water to the entire population of Gaza, some 2.3 million people – is a war crime.

What Israel is already doing – the indiscriminate bombing of residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure, from hospitals to schools and mosques – are war crimes. What Israel is threatening to do – killing “every Hamas member” (what is Israel going to do, identify them by their membership cards?) and perhaps forcibly ejecting the population of Gaza to the Sinai Desert – are war crimes. Lurid headlines, meanwhile, like the “beheaded babies” reports – based apparently on the word of a single soldier in the Israeli military – prepare public opinion for mass slaughter. And preparing public opinion for mass slaughter is exactly what Israel is doing and has been doing for a while.

Describing Hamas members as “human animals” – as Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant did in announcing a “complete siege” on Gaza (“no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel – everything is closed”) – is the language of genocide. There is a long ignoble history of such language. Turks described Armenians as “dangerous microbes” before the Armenian genocide. Nazis called Jews “subhumans” and “rats.” Rwanda’s Hutus called Tutsis “cockroaches” before unleashing the violence that saw more than half a million people killed in less than three months.

WORLD ORDER In the past, Israeli assaults have been accompanied by largely pro forma international calls for restraint and proportionality. This time, such formality has been dispensed with.

Not only is no one Israel cares about – the US, Europe and the UK – invoking human rights or law. They are all lining up to offer material support.

The US is moving a warship in the Mediterranean closer, presumably to deter other actors from getting involved (the Biden administration might want to be careful with that, Israel has form for sinking American warships). The UK has offered Israel military support should it need it. And across Europe, there has been a concerted effort to stifle dissent and silence opposition. France has banned a number of planned pro-Palestine protests across the country, Vienna has followed suit, while Berlin is considering the same.

In the UK, waving a Palestinian flag and chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” could become a criminal offense. In the US, meanwhile, politicians are falling over themselves to encourage Israel to “level” Gaza, respond “disproportionately,” or simply “treat sick people the way they deserve to be treated and eliminate them.” This is preparing public opinion for genocide. More than 40 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are children under the age of 15. That is roughly one million children. That means that right now, Israel is depriving one million children of food, water, electricity and medicine. And it is doing so with the full support of the “Free World.”

DARK DAYS Which begs the question: how many? How many people must die now to satisfy the bloodlust? How many people is the West prepared to sacrifice on the altar of Israel’s “right to defend itself?” Five thousand? Ten thousand? Maybe 50,000? A hundred eyes for an eye? Well, you do the math. In this up-isdown world, where Western democracies who pride themselves on their “rule of law” and “respect for human rights” are standing firmly on the side of an occupying power as it prepares to slaughter a largely defenseless civilian population, nothing seems remarkable anymore.

Ukraine is on the side of the occupiers. Russia is invoking international law.

Diplomatically, there is no logic to this. The stated international consensus is for a two-state solution to the Palestine issue. The US, UK and Europe all publicly say this is the outcome they seek.

The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority want this. Even Hamas has said it is prepared to enter a long-term truce if Israel withdraws to 1967 boundaries.

It is Israel alone that is opposed to a Palestinian state emerging. Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel for all but one of the past 14 years, has long insisted that there will be “no Palestinian state on my watch.” The West has been clear it is opposed to any Palestinian war crime. But it has been equally clear that it supports any Israeli war crime. The double standards are grotesque. If law, logic, internationally agreed standards of human rights and rules of war do not apply to Israel, any semblance of an international order – already deeply criticized for serving only the interests of the powerful by the socalled Global South – will simply fall away. Like the French diplomat, hastily recalled to Paris, is supposed to have remarked to a counterpart at a Christmas party in Jerusalem in 2001: “All the trouble in the world for this shitty little country, Israel.” These are dark days indeed.

Omar Karmi is an associate editor of The Electronic Intifada and a former Jerusalem and Washington, DC, correspondent for The National newspaper.

A

DEMOCRACY NOW!

amy Goodman & deniS moynihan

S Israel intensifies its brutal response to Hamas’ brutal October 7th attack, it is important to hear from those at the target end of the weapons – from both sides of the conflict. The mainstream media in the United States consistently brings us the voices of Israelis who have suffered violence at the hands of Hamas gunmen. Let that be a model for coverage of Palestinian grief. We rarely hear from Palestinian civilians. Hearing people speak for themselves is the first step to breaking down barriers, to fostering understanding that can lead to a just peace.

Not long after the Hamas attack, Israel began its latest intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Bearing the full force of that retaliation are the 2.4 million Palestinians who Israel has blockaded in Gaza, almost half of whom are children. The Gaza Strip, roughly four miles wide and 25 miles long, is one of the most densely populated places on earth and has long been described as the world’s largest open-air prison.

Under “normal” conditions, Gazans live under a severe military occupation. No one gets in or out without Israel’s permission. Israel controls Gaza’s water, food and fuel. Now, in the wake of the Hamas attack, the Israeli siege and bombardment of Gaza has become cataclysmic. “We are imposing a complete siege in Gaza. There will be no food, no water, no fuel; everything will be closed. We are fighting against human animals,” Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced.

As of the time of this writing, 1,300 Israelis been confirmed killed and thousands injured, with an estimated 150 people kidnapped. More than 1,350 Palestinians have been killed and 6,000 wounded as Israel devastates Gaza in an act of collective punishment that is illegal under international law.

“There is no single place you can call a safe haven in Gaza, airplane fighters, drones ruling all over the sky…whether it’s an apartment, whether it’s a tower with hundreds of apartments, whether it’s a house, whether it’s a hospital, whether it’s a school, a shelter used by UNRWA [the UN’s Palestinian relief agency],” Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza and

winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, said on the Democracy Now! news hour. As he spoke, his house shook from an explosion. “Netanyahu says Gazans should leave Gaza. Where to? We don’t have safe passage. …it’s genocidal.” Ofer Cassif, an Israeli Jewish member of the Knesset, or parliament, said on Democracy Now!: “I got a WhatsApp message from a very good friend of mine who was hiding with her husband in the kibbutz. She told me she was very afraid and she could hear the Hamas fighters outside. Unfortunately, those were probably the last words she ever wrote, because she was murdered with her husband just after she sent me that message — a very good friend of mine who was also against the occupation, a voter with our party. Innocent people, innocent civilians on both sides, Israelis and Palestinians, pay the price of the arrogant, criminal, ongoing occupation that Israel refuses to end.”

U.S. news networks have dispatched correspondents to Israel to cover the violence, but there are few Palestinians being interviewed, or Israeli peace activists or reporters who oppose the occupation. Reports that Hamas beheaded babies are widely circulated on major news channels, by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and by President Biden. When questioned, the White House walked back the claim, saying they “could not confirm” the reports.

The actual violence is horrible enough: 260 young people were massacred at a music festival dedicated to “unity and love.” A kibbutz described by one resident as home to Israeli “peaceniks” was destroyed, with over 100 killed and many kidnapped by Hamas. In Gaza, entire families, entire neighborhoods, are being erased by Israeli bombs. Hospitals and ambulances are being attacked. At least six journalists have been killed in Gaza attempting to report on the Israeli assault that is only expected to worsen.

“The idea that you can coop up 5 million people, put them behind walls, tighten the siege on them, use an eyedropper to allow them some food, some water, some electricity, that idea has exploded as a result of the horrific events…This cannot continue,” Rashid Khalidi, renowned Palestinian American scholar and the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, said on Democracy Now! “The United States should be trying to defuse the situation…We finance this occupation. We finance this violence. There are American weapons that are being used today, right now, in Gaza to kill innocent civilians in violation of U.S. law.”

The United States has the power to pressure Israel to end its occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem. First the media must allow the American public to hear the voices of victims from all sides of this conflict.

„The idea that you can coop up 5 million people, put them behind walls, tighten the siege on them, use an eyedropper to allow them some food, some water, some electricity, that idea has exploded as a result of the horrific events⁄This cannot continue‰

06 NEWS

Saturday, 14 October, 2023 | LAHORE

US READY TO PROVIDE FURTHER MILITARY SUPPORT TO ISRAEL, SAY DEFENCE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN

‘BUSTED’: Israel’s CNN-touted claims Hamas ‘beheaded babies’ proven false

U

WASHINGTON AGENCIES

S Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Friday that the Pentagon is prepared to send additional military aid to Israel as Israeli forces make preparations for a potential invasion of Gaza in response to a significant attack by the militant group Hamas.

Austin stated that munitions, air defence capabilities, and various equipment and resources are swiftly being provided to Israel, the United States’ closest Middle Eastern ally. Israel has vowed to crush Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist organisation governing Gaza.

The Israeli military launched an extensive bombardment of the Gaza Strip, marking one of the heaviest in its history, following a shocking crossborder attack by Hamas into southern Israel on October 7.

Israel’s response, which has already included the dropping of thousands of

bombs on Gaza, is expected to escalate as preparations for a possible ground assault on the densely populated coastal strip intensify.

The United States and other Western allies have pledged their support to Israel as it conducts what Israeli leaders anticipate will be a protracted conflict.

In a press briefing held in Tel Aviv alongside his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, Austin emphasised the need for “resolve” rather than “revenge” during this critical time.

He likened Hamas to the Islamic State, drawing a parallel with the bloodthirsty Islamist group that emerged in Iraq and Syria a decade ago. Israeli leaders have been using this comparison to garner support for their impending Gaza offensive.

Austin also sought to reassure Ukraine, stating that the United States would back Israel in its conflict against Hamas while continuing to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. Ukrainian officials have expressed concerns that US military aid to Israel might affect

‘This would be my last video,’ says Scottish leader’s mother-in-law from Gaza LONDON

AGENCIES

Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf on Friday shared a poignant video from his mother-in-law, Elizabeth El-Nakla, who was visiting Gaza along with her husband when the conflict began between Hamas and Israel. “This would be my last video. Everybody in Gaza is moving towards where we are. One million people, no food, no water and still (the Israeli forces are) bombing them as they leave,” El-Nakla said while crying. “Where are we going to put them? But my thought is, all these people in the hospital cannot be evacuated. “Where’s humanity, where’s people’s hearts in the world to let this happen in this date and age. May god help us, goodbye,” said Elizabeth ElNakla in the video message.

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing

Israel’s accusation that Hamas decapitated babies during a weekend attack has turned out to be false as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) could not confirm the horrifying report. A representative for the military conveyed this to The Intercept on Tuesday, emphasising that while they couldn’t officially confirm it, people should assume it happened.

The unverified claim, which emerged from the town of Kfar Aza, became a significant feature of a tragedy that saw the loss of over 1,000 Israeli lives.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson, Tal Heinrich, reiterated the news even in the absence of IDF verification, underscoring how unsubstantiated reports can become part of the historical record.

This allegation is just one in a series of horrifying stories that have surfaced as Israeli soldiers retook control of towns attacked by Hamas. Accusations of Hamas’ crimes against civilians provided Israel with an excuse to launch a massive bombing campaign in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

President Joe Biden initially mentioned “confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children” on Wednesday, a statement later clarified by the White House as being based on Heinrich’s comments and media reports, as the president had not actually seen such images. The spread of false information in modern warfare has been exacerbated by changes to Twitter’s (now X) verification criteria under Elon Musk’s ownership. It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.

Journalists and public officials must now exercise greater caution in verifying information before sharing it, given the platform’s prior role as a primary source for breaking news. Media critic Sana Saeed pointed out the dangers of rapidly spreading misinformation and disinformation in this highly charged environment. Unverified reports are sometimes presented alongside verified, equally disturbing ones, and this has real and often tragic consequences.

The allegation that newborns were decapitated was first reported by Israeli TV network i24NEWS and gained attention as it was shared by well-known journalists and officials. However, the IDF refused to confirm the claim, citing a reason of respect for the deceased. NEWS DESK Kyiv’s own hardware deliveries and its stockpiles of weapons and munitions.

Austin emphasised the United States’ ability to project power and uphold commitments in various theatres, pledging to stand with both Israel and Ukraine.

The statement highlights the complex dynamics and considerations in providing military aid to multiple nations with different conflicts and needs while maintaining international relationships and commitments.

Oil surges on US sanctions, tight stockpile forecasts PROFIT REUTERS

Oil prices leapt more than $3 on Friday after the U.S. tightened its sanctions programme against Russian crude exports, raising supply concerns in an already tight market, with global inventories forecast to decline through the fourth quarter.

Brent futures rose $3.30 to $89.30 per barrel as of 1311 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $3.32 to $86.23 a barrel, after earlier breaking the $4 barrier.

On Thursday, the U.S. imposed the first sanctions on owners of tankers carrying Russian oil priced above the G7’s price cap of $60 a barrel, to close loopholes in the mechanism designed to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia is the world’s secondlargest oil producer and a major exporter and the tighter U.S. scrutiny of its shipments could curtail supply.

Despite fluctuations through the week in both crude bench-

marks, Brent was set for a weekly gain of more than 5%, while WTI was set to climb roughly 4% for the week, after both surged on Monday.

That uptick was driven by the potential for disruptions to Middle Eastern exports after the weekend attack by militant Islamist group Hamas on Israel threatened a wider conflict. “(A) geopolitical risk premium still lingers around the corner that is likely to support oil prices in the short-term,” said Kelvin Wong, senior markets analyst at OANDA in Singapore.

The market was most concerned about supply constraints from the Middle East and Russia, said Wong.

But the conflict in the Middle East has so far had a restrained impact on crude prices, said Commerzbank analysts Thu Lan Nguyen and Carsten Fritsch in a research note.

“There has been no sign so far that the leading oil producing countries in the region will become directly involved in the military conflict, which would

threaten to considerably restrict the crude oil output of these countries,” they said.

Also on Thursday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) kept its forecast for growth in global oil demand, citing signs of a resilient world economy so far this year and expected further demand gains in China, the world’s biggest oil importer.

“Supply side issues remained the focus in the crude oil market,” Daniel Hynes, senior commodity strategist at ANZ, said in a note on Friday, adding that prices during early trade on Friday rose on the stronger U.S. sanctions enforcement.

“Sentiment was also boosted after OPEC said it expects crude stockpiles to slump by 3 (million barrels per day) this quarter. That assumes that there are no further supply disruptions emanating from the Israel-Hamas war,” Hynes said.

Oil prices also shrugged off data released on Friday showing a month-on-month decline in Chinese crude imports.

China’s September foreign trade reaches new monthly high for 2023 BEIJING

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

China’s foreign trade in September registered month-on-month growth for a second consecutive month, with the trade volume reaching a new monthly high for the year, official data showed Friday, the latest sign indicating that the world’s second-largest economy is on track toward recovery as stimulus kicks in and market confidence returns.

According to the General Administration of Customs, August and September recorded two consecutive months of month-on-month positive growth in imports and exports. Notably, in September, the scale of imports and exports reached a new monthly high for the year, hitting 3.74 trillion yuan ($511.9 billion).

In September alone, exports dipped 0.6 percent year-on-year in yuandenominated terms, while imports fell 0.8 percent.

In the first three quarters of the year, China’s foreign trade reached 30.8 trillion yuan in yuan-denominated terms, down 0.2 percent year-on-year. Exports rose 0.6 percent year-on-year, while imports fell 1.2 percent year-on-year.

China’s foreign trade has withstood pressure despite an unstable world economy. As China’s economy maintains an upward trend, and domestic growth drivers are strengthened, combined with measures for stabilizing trade being implemented, it is believed that the momentum of foreign trade will become more solid, and quality will be further elevated, Lü Daliang, spokesperson from the General Administration of Customs told a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

The spokesperson noted that in the next stage, China’s foreign trade operations are expected to receive continued support from a range of favorable factors, including an improving domestic economic performance. Domestic PMI index has recorded a fourmonth consecutive increase, with August witnessing accelerated growth in industrial added value and social retail consumption compared to the previous month.

The recent Golden Week holidays showcased the robust vitality of the Chinese retail economy.

Industries such as shipping, engineering machinery, and household appliances, which are key export sectors, have seen further growth in market share, international competitiveness, and brand influence.

Optimism among export and import-focused companies has also increased compared to the previous month, said the official.

Trade index between China, BRI partners rises to 165.4 in 2022 from 100 in 2013 ISLAMABAD

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

An index tracking trade between China and countries participating in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) rose to 165.4 in 2022 from the benchmark 100 in 2013, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Friday, showcasing a growing role of BRI cooperation in facilitating trade.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI, the index aims to present the achievement of trade development between China and BRI participating countries in a systematic and comprehensive way, Lü Daliang, spokesperson of the GAC, said at a press briefing of the State Council Information Office on Friday. The index includes four dimensions of measurement, including trade scale, trade structure, trade benefit and trade facilitation.

The index is released ahead of the upcoming third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) next week, where countries and organisations will summarise the achievement of BRI cooperation in the past decade and charter a future course.

In terms of trade volume, the corresponding index between China and countries participating in the BRI jumped significantly to 161.3 in 2022. In 2022, the trade volume reached 18.95 trillion yuan ($2.59 trillion) from 10.11 trillion yuan in 2013, which translated to an annual increase rate of 7 percent in the past decade, 1.5 percentage points higher than the overall growth rate of China’s foreign trade.

Saturday, 14 October, 2023 | LAHORE

CORPORATE CORNER

Caretaker Minister for Maritime Affairs Shahid Ashraf Tarar calls on Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad. PR

IESCO power suspension schedule for today, tomorrow

According to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO)’s spokesman, SystemMaintenance/Development Work is in process. Therefore power supply of below mentionedfeeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given schedule:On 14 th October 2023, From 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM, Islamabad Circle, TufailShaheed, Cherah, Frash Town, Karpa, Inup Feeders, From 07:00 AM to 12:00 Noon,Islamabad Circle, I-10/1, I -11/1 Feeders, Rawalpindi City Circle, Tamasamaabad, ShamsColony, Nust Road, New Milpur, 6 th Road, T&T, PTCL, Khanna Road, Gulshan Quaid, Airport,Gangal Feeders, Rawalpindi Cantt Circle, U C Lakhan, Nishan Haider, Islamabad Feed Mill,Jhata Hatial, Bisali, Pind Jatla, Lab.I & II, Industrial, Reliance Weaving Mill, Bhal, Jarrar Comp,SPD.II, PAF, RIC, Gracie Line , Rahmatabad.I, Jehangir Road, VVIP, Rahimabad Feeder,Jhelum Circle, Puran, Fatehpur, Sanghui, Chotala, Captain Nisar Shaheed, Express Mangala,Madu Kalas, Gadari, Shah Safir, New Khanqah, Feeders, Chakwal Circle, Madina Town,Katas, Dalwal, Manara, Feeders, Attock Circle, PM Housing Colony, Air University Feeders,On 15 th October 2023, From 07:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, Rawalpindi Cantt Circle, Major Riaz,Lala Zar, Jhawara Feeders and surrounding areas will remain closed. IESCO managementapologizes to its esteemed customers for the power outage. If the work is completed ahead oftime, the power supply can be restored even before the scheduled time. PR

Forman Christian College celebrates inauguration of State-of-Art Campus Center

Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) marked a historic milestone with the inauguration of the first-of-its-kind Jim Tebbe Campus Center, named after FCCU’s former rector Dr. James A. Tebbe. This building is a totally student centered facility that houses a Digital Library, meeting rooms, faculty, and researchers hall, reading rooms, student activity offices, dining hall, lounges, departmental store, Art gallery, smart bank, auditoriums, conference rooms, multipurpose halls, and a business incubation center.

The inauguration event was attended by dignitaries, including high-ranking bureaucrats, diplomats, renowned artists, businessmen, members of the corporate sector, alumni, and the university faculty and staff. Dr. Jonathan S. Addleton, Rector FCCU, during his speech. PR

Master Changan becomes first automaker in Pakistan to achieve volume exports

KARACHI: Continuing its tradition of industry firsts, Master Changan Motors Ltd (MCML is a joint venture with Changan International) has successfully exported the first batch of 14 Oshan X7s to Kenya for onwards sale to Kenya and Tanzania markets. Last year first sample unit was also exported to a country in the Oceania region Making it the first company to become Pakistan's volume exporter of technologically advanced SUVs ‘Made in Pakistan’ the Oshan X7 will be the first SUV to be launched in an international market. This major milestone is achieved at the 10th year anniversary of the CPEC and is an example of the deep economic cooperation between Pakistan and China.

An export ceremony was held in Karachi, during which Master Changan’s CEO Mr. Danial Malik said, “We are taking our next major step to achieve our vision of making Master Changan a part of Changan’s global vehicle supply chain under the ‘Vast Ocean Plan’, while putting Pakistan on the map for producing and exporting high quality vehicles to the world. Kenya and Tanzania are one of the many countries where Master Changan Motors plans to leave its mark, as we look to expand our export volumes.” The ceremony was attended by Chief Guest, Mr. Asad Rehman Gilani, Secretary Industries and Production; Mr. Asim Ayaz, General Manager. PR

07

INFRASTRUCTURE, DEREGULATION AND EDUCATION KEY TO ICT BETTER FUTURE IN PAKISTAN NEWS

P

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

AKISTANI ICT entrepreneurs have recently called for infrastructure upgrade, regulation easing and education uplift to fully unleash the potential of Pakistan’s ICT industry and sectors closely related to it.

This revelation came from a panel discussion on Pakistan’s ICT industry at the Belt and Road (BRI) Report Publishing Event held here, according to a report published by China Economic Net (CEN), At the event, a group of four panelists elaborated on the vital role of enhanced infrastructure, a healthy dose of regulation, and education in ICT in powering ecommerce, smartphones and music industry.

Kamran Pervaiz, director of corporate affairs of Daraz.pk, a Pakistani ecommerce giant, said while 2% of the Pakistani retail sector has gone online, this lags far behind India and China, which

reaches 50% and 53% respectively.

“We need common infrastructure… and the Internet to enable ecommerce,” Kamran noted, adding that infrastructure upgrade is more needed in rural areas.

This view was echoed by Sufian Ahmad Ch, head of marketing of Xiaomi Pak. “The technology is not accessible for everyone, even now more than 50%

of the population doesn’t have access to 4G or doesn’t have smartphones.”

Syed Muhammad Naqi, CEO of DCode, a Pakistani smartphone brand born after Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s 2020 policy to promote local manufacturing of mobile devices in Pakistan.

Syed noted that despite its relative advantage in software prowess, Pakistan

Remitlink23 Conference held for Pakistani expatriates in Dubai

KARACHI/ DUBAI: The flow of remittances from the Pakistani community in Dubai could increase manifolds through banking channels with the support of financial institutions, the dedicated government scheme, and community developers. Innovative service, incentives, and community building could encourage Pakistani workers in the UAE and Gulf region to utilize banking channels to support their country's economy in challenging times.These were the views of speakers at the daylong conference "Remitlink23: Resilient Remittances" organized

by Dellsons Associate in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan in UAE and Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group (FERG). The event was sponsored by Dubai Islamic Bank, JazzCash, and Instant Cash.Speaking as the chief guest, Faisal Niaz Tirmzi, Ambassador to Pakistan for UAE, said the UAE is the second largest host country in the world with over 1.6 million Pakistani nationals and the number of Pakistani professionals coming to different states of this country is on the rise in recent months.Pakistani professionals and workers in different states of the United Arab Emirates are resourceful, hardworking, and patriotic, having a deep sense of responsibility to serve their homeland through their valuable contribution, including sending remittances through banking channels, he said and added. PR

PACRA assigns AM2 rating with stable outlook to Pak-Qatar Asset Management Company

KARACHI: Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA) has assigned an Asset Manager rating of 'AM2' (AM-Two) with a stable outlook to PakQatar Asset Management Company Limited (PQAMC). This denotes a high quality, which mean the Asset manager meets high investment management industry standards and benchmarks with noted strengths in several of the rating factors.

This milestone underscores PQAMC's unwavering commitment to excellence in the field of Islamic fund management. PQAMC is part of Pak Qatar Group (Pakistan's premier and pioneer Islamic financial services group), offering a comprehensive range of savings and protection solutions that adhere to the principles of Sharia-compliant finance.The trust bestowed upon us by our valued partners stands as a testament to our unwavering dedication to excellence. Within one-year of operations, we attained various remarkable milestones, including achieving Assets Under Management (AUMs) size of exceeding Rs. 15.5 billion and the Governance Rating of AM2, which signifies high quality investment management industry standards. PQAMC has launched 9 Funds/Investment Plans in a short span of less than year for both Corporate and Retail Investors, comprising Equity Fund, Income Funds, Money Market Funds, Asset Allocation Fund. PR

Zong 4G announces partnership with MYCO for free ICC Cricket World Cup streaming through My Zong App

ISLAMABAD: Zong 4G, Pakistan's leading telecom operator, enters cricket season with its exciting partnership with MYCO, a live-streaming platform, for this edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup. This collaboration aims to bring the thrilling action of the ICC Cricket World Cup directly to the screens of cricket enthusiasts across Pakistan, absolutely free through the My Zong App on the MYCO platform.Cricket fever is at its peak in Pakistan! The sport holds a special place in Pakistan and the ICC Cricket World Cup is the ultimate occasion for fans to come together. Understanding that the passion for cricket runs deep within the nation, Zong 4G partnered with MYCO to make sure that its customers don’t miss the action of the World Cup, and guess what? It's all absolutely free!

Thanks to the My Zong App, customers can now catch all the cricketing excitement on the MYCO platform in HD without signing up.My Zong App (MZA) ensures you won't miss a single moment of the World Cup action and provides customers the chance to benefit from exciting promotions and exclusive offers for added excitement throughout the tournament."Cricket is a sport that has an unmatched following in Pakistan, and Zong 4G is dedicated to bringing the best cricket experience to our customers,” said the official spokesperson for Zong 4G, “Our collaboration with MYCO. PR

NBP hosts pilot launch of Digital Account Opening

KARACHI: National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) is pleased to announce the Pilot launch of its Digital Account. The new service, once launched will enable account opening digitally for all customers. People from across the country will be able to open an account with NBP, anytime, from anywhere, just by downloading the NBP Digital App and tapping on the “Open Account” to start the customer account opening journey conveniently. This innovative platform is set to transform the banking experience for individual Pakistani customers.NBP's Digital Account Opening Services align with the Customers’ Digital Onboarding Framework (CDOF), and will offer a wide range of benefits to customers. As part of our commitment to enhancing customer convenience, NBP plans to continually expand the range of services available through this digital platform. PR

is plagued by a lack of hardware and infrastructure. Once the infrastructure is ready, “we can do the next level of CKD (complete knock down), SKD (semi knock down) and all the other things.”

Excessive regulation poses another challenge. “Over-regulation can kill sometimes,” claimed Yahya Farid Khwaja, CEO of Freebird Music, a leading music company in Pakistan. He shared that Pakistani music artists have a 30% market share in the Indian music industry, but their revenues go to the Indian government rather than Pakistan due to unnecessary regulation.

“In order to compete (in the global stage), and in order to improve our infrastructure, we need to be regulated a little bit rather than more regulated,” echoed Syed.

A lack of technical education also hurts. Commenting on the development of the hardware sector in ICT industry, Syed said that “We’re lacking hardware engineers…Your information technology cannot move forward without the support of the hardware engineers.”

CDC, along with AMCs and Capital Market entities, organizes World Investor Weekend 2023

KARACHI: Central Depository Company (CDC) in partnership with SECP and leading AMCs and brokerage houses of Pakistan have organized a 3day long event in Karachi to create awareness amongst the potential investors and masses about financial products and services. The event was inaugurated by Ms. Khalida Habib Executive Director SECP in the presence of CEO CDC Mr. Badiuddin Akber, Chairman CDC Mr. Moin Fudda and heads of other financial institutions. Masses will be educated about different safe and secured financial products available to them for short and long-term investment in Pakistani capital market.

This event is being organized to amplify the message of investor empowerment, financial literacy, and the safeguarding of investor rights. The event will be live over the weekend (13th Oct to 15th Oct 2023. PR

KMC unveils groundbreaking digital transformation with SAP Applications

KARACHI: Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has taken a monumental step towards modernizing its operations by implementing SAP Financials and SAP HCM and Payroll modules.

This strategic move enables KMC to efficiently manage employees' salaries and pensions, benefiting over 12,000 employees and 22,000 pensioners.The deployment of SAP applications at KMC introduces a range of salient features, including the Employee Data Base, which allows for seamless management of employee information.

Additionally, the system facilitates processes such as new employee onboarding, capturing detailed employee information, handling employee movements (transfer and recruitment), and managing organizational assignments. The integration with other HR components such as country-specific payroll applications (Net Pay, Gross Pay, Total Deductions, etc.) and financial accounting further enhances the efficiency and accuracy of operations. PR

Easypaisa Karobar to revolutionize digital banking services for merchants

ISLAMABAD: easypaisa, Pakistan's leading digital financial services platform has launched easypaisa Karobar powered by Dukan, a platform designed specifically to address unmet banking needs of two million retail merchants across the country. Being Pakistan's first digital banking app for retailers, easypaisa Karobar enables merchants to manage their financing needs digitally, reduce operational complexities, and become part of the digital economy.The easypaisa Karobar app streamlines merchant operations with advanced features, enabling cashless payments from the easypaisa Wallet to distributors. The app also provides flexible digital lending options for daily stock purchases to retailers. PR

Let us be voice of oppressed Palestinians against barbaric crimes of Zionists HASSAN NOURIAN, COUNSUL GENERAL OF IRAN

Nowadays the entire world is witnessing the barbarian behaviour of Zionist child-killer regime in the occupied Palestine. 900 of innocent Palestinian people has been killed while 260 out of this are children and 230 women.

The number of injures surpassed 2900 persons.

A quote by General Moshe Dayan is saying that 'Israel must be like a mad dog, too dangerous to bother.' I consider it all hopeless at this point. We shall have to try to prevent things from coming to that, if at all possible.

Our armed forces, however, are not the thirtieth strongest in the world, but rather the second or third.

In 1969, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir famously said, "There is no such thing as a Palestinian nation, and there never will be." Such views are still very common in Israel, even today, and there have been dozens of clashes against what they say does not exist abroad, made Palestine the case.

His documents: The letter p does not exist in the Arabic language at all, so how can the Palestinian people exist? (In Arabic, the letter F is placed instead of what it is in other languages, and the Arabic name of Palestine is "Felestine".)

The Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was a spontaneous

move by the resistance groups and the oppressed Palestinian people in defense of their inalienable and undeniable rights. It is Palestinians’ natural reaction to the war-mongering, provocative and incendiary policies of the Zionists, especially the usurping regime’s extremist and adventurous prime minister.

It is not possible to take the land, territories and homes of a nation step by step by resorting to force and violence from its owners and displace them so almost 3million people are imprisoned and deprived of many of the blessings of life in a piece the size of a small city; deprived them of the right to independence and honorable life and still lived in security.

Palestinian people’s inalienable right to defend themselves, their land and their sanctities against occupation, aggression, daily violations and organized terror on part of the Zionist regime is a natural and legitimate right in line with all recognized international standards and the fundamental principles of international law.

Therefore, the main responsibility of what is happening in Gaza and the occupied territories these days, is the responsibility of the occupying, totalitarian regime, which has an extreme ethnic and religious and racist ideology, which disregards all international laws, United Nations resolutions and the requests and warnings of in-

ternational organizations.

On the one hand, the continuation of the desecration of Islam’s holy sites and the first Qibla of Muslims by extremist and racist Zionists in recent months and weeks, and the persistence of the Zionist regime's policy of killing, committing crimes and doing acts of aggression against the oppressed Palestinian people, especially women, children and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails amid the silence and inaction of the international community and the fake human rights defenders have left the Palestinian nation and resistance no way but to resist and rely on their inherent strength in the face of the Zionists.

Double standards are the biggest and most serious example of human rights violations.

The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms the inherent and legal right of Palestinians to defend themselves visà-vis the crimes of the usurpers of Palestine that have been going on for 75 years. Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei declared: The supporters of the Zionist regime and some people of the regime have been making jokes in the last two or three days that introduce Iran behind these movements; They are wrong. We defend Palestine; We kiss the foreheads and arms of the resourceful and intelligent designers of the Palestinian youth, but this work is the

work of the Palestinians themselves.

Iran also holds the Zionist occupiers and its supporters responsible for the continuation and escalation of violence and atrocities against the Palestinians.

Iran calls on Muslim countries to support al-Aqsa Mosque and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.The Islamic Republic of Iran has proposed to host an extraordinary meeting of Islamic Cooperation Organization so that the leaders of these countries exchange points of views on the the critical situation of the Palestinian people and to reach a definite strong decision against the internationally crimes of the Zionist regime.

The Zionists are trying to use their own & the west's media power to make the oppressed and the oppressor look the opposite and distort the public opinion of the world.

In the days when Muslim nations are holding gatherings and celebrating the birth anniversary of the beloved Prophet of Islam, it will be appropriate to use this opportunity to help the oppressed brothers and sisters of Palestine and be the voice of their oppression in all parts of the world. According to the divine promise in the Holy Quran, we believe that in the end the oppressed will be the victors in this arena, and God willing, the victory of the Palestinian people and the freedom of the holy holy city is tangibly near.

SUPREME COURT RULING AGAINST AMENDMENTS TO NAB LAW CHALLENGED

Saturday, 14 October, 2023

PRAYER TIMINGS

NEWS

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ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

HE Supreme Court’s September 15 ruling that struck down some amendments made to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, was challenged on Friday.

In the wake of the top court’s verdict upholding the Practice and Procedure Act 2023, Abdul Jabbar — through his counsel Farooq H Naek — filed a plea in the apex court, calling for setting aside the ruling on the NAB law.

The Supreme Court had in a majority decision of 10-5 on October 11, upheld the law formulated to regulate the affairs of the top court, but noted that although the right to appeal provided against a decision taken under Article 184(3) will not be applicable retrospectively, it will apply to those ruling which were issued after the law came into effect. The NAB amendments case was related to public importance; thus, it fell under the original jurisdiction of the superior court i.e.

Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

Parliament passed the Supreme Court

powers of the Supreme Court under Article 184(3).

“The […] order suffers from errors floating on the surface of the record and is liable to be reviewed,” the petitioner added. Concluding the plea, Jabbar prayed that the top court set aside its September 15 ruling and provide “any other relief” that the superior court “deems fit and proper”.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court in a majority 2-1 verdict had approved Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s petition challenging amendments made to the country’s accountability laws during the tenure of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government.

The three-member bench, headed by CJP Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, held more than 50 hearings on PTI chief Khan’s petition against the amendments and reserved the judgment on the hearing on September 5.

In the majority verdict, the Supreme Court restored graft cases against public office holders that were closed down following the amendments.

(Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023, in April, and the apex court struck down the amendments to the NAB law in September, allowing the right to appeal.

In his petition, Jabbar stated that he had “condemned unheard” but mentioned that although he was not a party to the case earlier, the court had also not issued a notice to him in this regard.

The petitioner also said that the court should exercise its jurisdiction under Article 184(3) “sparingly” and that the conditions precedent for the exercise of this original jurisdiction is “not fulfilled in this case”.

He claimed that the September 15 judgment was issued “without considering the fundamental principles of parliamentary democracy as well as laid down a principle for striking out legislation”.

“The […] judgment has declared the provisions of the amending Acts of the Parliament on the policy consideration and contrary to the ‘will of the people’ which the later scribed through the subject amendments,” the petition read.

Jabbar also mentioned that through the judgment, the court assumed the position of being a ‘legislator’ and ‘policy maker’, which is beyond the scope of

‘Hostile intelligence agency’ responsible for Sialkot shooting, claims IGP Punjab LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar on Thursday held responsible a “rogue nation’s hostile intelligence agency” for the Sialkot mosque shooting that claimed three lives earlier this week.

On October 11, a prayer leader, a religious activist belonging to an outlawed outfit, and his security guard were killed in what is believed to be a targeted attack on a Daska mosque during Fajr prayers.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, the Punjab police chief said the attackers behind a terror attack in the country were arrested, adding that it was carried out by a “rogue nation and planned outside Pakistan”, without elaborating on further about the alleged rogue nation. “The perpetrators were identified by the unity of purpose of the law enforcement agencies,” he said. “Most of them have been arrested.

The state of Pakistan through its law enforcement agencies will expose the rogue nation to the world.”

Dr Usman Anwar warned the “rats” who were hatching conspiracies against the state of Pakistan to now be ready to be exposed for their “evil deeds” as the Foreign Office and other institutions were now working towards it.

He said the LEAs including police, Counter Terrorism Department, Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, and the Military Intelligence united to not only trace the culprits of the incident but thwart more attacks.

Talking about the attack, the Punjab police chief said a few people were killed during a firing incident at a Sialkot mosque, adding that the culprits were immediately arrested and would be presented in court now.

“This attack was planned outside Pakistan. A hostile intelligence agency sent a person to Pakistan. We have all the records about who is the person who came here, who he met, and even his geo-location. They came here from Oct 6-Oct 9 and executed the plan on Oct 11.”

Dr Anwar said the police would identify the enemy country in his next press conference along with the identities of the three shooters and their facilitators.

“We have all kinds of evidence, including data from Booking.com and other sites. Our constables went and searched hotels,” he said. “We, along with the CTD, have collected irrefutable evidence which we will present to the media and court.”

SIALKOT ATTACK: Slain Maulana Shahid Latif’s security guard Zulfiqar Ali had said six unidentified people reached the Noori-i-Madina Masjid early Wednesday (Oct 11) morning in Mandike Guraya Chowk on motorbikes and three of them joined the prayers.

He had said some gunshots were heard and within seconds the assailants fled the scene, adding that the gunmen had shot at him as well but he remained unhurt.

According to the police, prayer leader Maulana Ahad, Maulana Muhammad Latif, and his security guard Hashim Ali were seriously injured in the firing.

Police had said Maulana Latif died on the spot due to a head injury while Maulana Ahad and the security guard were immediately shifted to the Daska Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in critical condition.

The guard succumbed to bullet wounds while Maulana Ahad was shifted to a hospital in Gujranwala where he also expired. Eyewitnesses Qamar Abbas and Salim Warik, also offering prayers, had said the ages of the suspects were between 20 and 25 years. Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Hasan Iqbal had said this could be called a targeted killing and an incident of terrorism, adding that the police investigation teams had obtained all the evidence and statements of local people from the spot.

The apex court ordered restoring all graft cases worth less than Rs500 million that were closed down against the political leaders belonging to different political parties and public office holders and declared the amendments void.

Furthermore, the court directed the NAB to return all records related to cases to relevant courts within seven days.

The verdict on Khan’s appeal further added that the NAB amendments under question affected the rights of the public listed in the Constitution.

The verdict has some far-reaching consequences as the striking down of the amendments would mean that references against some of the country’s political bigwigs will once again land in the accountability courts.

These include the Toshakhana reference against Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, along with the LNG reference against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the rental power reference against former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.

FAJR SUNRISE

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Farrukh Habib’s wife writes to CJP; seeks early recovery of her husband FAISALABAD

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan expresses concerns over cycle of occupation, violence in Palestine NEW YORK

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan has expressed deep concerns over the cycle of occupation, oppression and violence in Palestine.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly’s sixth committee meeting in New York, Second Secretary at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN Rabia Ijaz said the rapidly deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the indiscriminate aerial bombardment and an inhumane blockade of food, fuel and medicines, as collective punishment of the entire Palestinian population of Gaza by Israeli Occupation forces are unacceptable. These actions amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

She said the current cycle of aggression and violence is a sad reminder and a direct consequence of over seven decades of illegal Israeli occupation, aggression, and disrespect for international law, including UNSC resolutions that recognize the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.

Rabia Ijaz said the interna-

tional community must work together for a just, comprehensive and lasting two-state solution with a viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Exercising its rightly of reply, Second Secretary Rabia Ijaz said Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory and is not at all a socalled integral part of India nor is it India’s domestic matter.

She said the UN Security Council in its resolutions has decided that the final disposition of Kashmir shall be determined by its people through a United Na-

tions supervised plebiscite. She said India accepted this decision and is bound to comply with it in accordance with Article 25 of the UN Charter.

Rabia Ijaz said India has no right to take any unilateral action to change the status of the territory. She said India is shamelessly engaged in crushing the legitimate Kashmiri quest for self-determination with an occupation army of 900,000 troops. Since 1989, she pointed out that over a hundred thousand Kashmiris have been killed, and a systematic settler-colonial project is underway and the tale of atrocities continues.

FBR registers FIR of Rs314.8b Sales Tax fraud g

MASTERMIND OWAIS ISMAIL IS ON THE RUN PROFIT

SHAHZAD PARACHA

The Federal Board of Revenue has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against a Karachi based company on account of huge sales tax fraud worth Rs 314.8 billion.

Documents state that the Regional Tax OfficeI, Karachi has lodged an FIR against m/s KH & sons and others on account of huge sales tax fraud.

The police is trying its best to locate mastermind Owais Ismail.

The perpetrators behind “KH & Sons” cunningly presented fictitious operations in the Iron & Steel industry, through benami accounts. The company purportedly operated out of multiple addresses, including Liaqat Market, Asgeri Market, and M.A Jinnah Market in Karachi.

During the scrutiny of the registration profiles of KH & Sons for the tax return of the period Feb2023 to Aug-2023, it was revealed that they had gotten sales tax registration dated 2nd March and declared a huge purchase amounting to Rs 1,748 billion involving sales tax amounting to Rs. 314.8 billion in the month of April-2023.

The bogus input tax amounting to Rs. 314.8 billion was created by buyer (M/s KH & Sons) in con-

nivance with the supplier (M/s Mohson Traders & M/s Sales Promoters). Subsequently, KH & Sons evaded taxes on supplies amounting to Rs.1,732 billion, causing the loss of Rs. 314 billion to the national exchequer.

The details of buyers and suppliers involved in the supply chain have already been shared with the concerned field formations with the request to take actions in accordance with law against the registered persons. Moreover, KH & Sons and Mohson Traders have been blacklisted under section 21(2) of Sales Tax Act, 1990 and Rule 12 of the Sales Tax Rules, 2006.

Sources said that the FBR team during their investigation found three different Law Firms including Bilal Hameed & Co, Beacon Law Associates and Ubaid Law Associates on their given addresses and all the three tax consultants were present.

Ubaid Khan has confessed that the returns of accused firm M/s. KH & Sons was filed by his employee named Hamm Javed on his direction while he was in Saudi Arabia for the performance of Umrah. He further stated that the data pertaining to the said firm was provided to him by Owais Ismail for filing of Sales Tax Returns.

Sources said that FBR is trying its best to locate main mastermind Owais Ismail as he has shifted his office to some other place.

The wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Farrukh Habib has written a letter to Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, requested g him to take notice of her husband’s disappearance and ensure his speedy recovery. In the letter, Farrukh Habib’s wife has stated that her husband was arrested by unknown persons, and has since been missing. She has also stated that a writ petition was filed in the Lahore High Court for his recovery, but no progress has been made so far.

The PTI leader’s wife has further stated that her husband’s enforced disappearance is a clear violation of his constitutional rights and that the authorities have failed to produce him in any court. She has appealed to the Chief Justice to take urgent notice of the matter and ensure her husband’s safe return.

Farrukh Habib, PTI central leader, had been underground since a state crackdown launched on the party after violent events of May 9 and was arrested by plainclothesmen from Gwadar, Balochistan.

At the time of arrest, he was staying in a local hotel in Gwadar. Eight other people, including Habib’s brother and father-in-law, were also arrested in the raid. They were taken to an unknown place after arrest.

Rampant smuggling threatens Pakistan’s tobacco industry ISLAMABAD

GHULAM ABBAS

The Pakistani government and health sector activists are grappling with a surge in smuggled cigarettes flooding both urban and rural markets, devoid of graphic warnings and sold below the minimum prices set by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Qasim Tariq, Senior Business Development Manager of Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited (PTC), revealed a staggering estimate of over $1 billion or more than Rs300 billion in potential loss of government tax revenue due to the booming illicit cigarette trade.

Tariq, during a media briefing on Thursday, highlighted the alarming situation that emerged after a 200 percent increase in Federal Excise Duty (FED) on tobacco products in January 2022. Despite the presence of legal players such as PTC, Philip Morris, and Khyber Tobacco Company, their collective market share remains at a mere 37 percent. Shockingly, smuggled cigarettes now constitute 13 percent, while non-tax paid locally manufactured cigarettes have ballooned to 50.2 percent of the market.

He emphasized the urgent need for a government-led national anti-illicit tobacco strategy and the revitalization of a dedicated enforcement task force.

Tariq asserted that these measures could curb the illegal trade, subsequently boosting government revenues. He raised concerns about the lack of FBR’s interest in curbing cigarette smuggling and halting the sale of packs lacking FBR tax stamps.

Tariq warned that without stringent enforcement, revenue generated from the legitimate tobacco sector would be short-lived.

Despite the increase in excise duty, Tariq argued that it had inadvertently put business sustainability at risk.

The lucrative black market in the cigarette sector continues to thrive, eroding the legitimate market share. He pointed out the vast price difference, with a packet of locally made dual-flavor cigarettes priced at around Rs650, while similar quality cigarettes from Dubai flood the market at a fraction of the cost, around Rs150 per packet. The situation paints a grim picture for Pakistan’s tobacco industry and the government’s financial health. Urgent and decisive action is needed to curb the illicit trade, protect public health, and safeguard the nation’s economy.

LHC to initiate contempt proceedings for conducting ‘two-finger test’ LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday ordered disciplinary action and initiation of contempt proceedings against doctors who are conducting the “two-finger test” in violation of an earlier prohibition in cases related to rape and sexual offences.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh presided over a post-arrest bail case filed by petitioner Muhammad Akram in the case.

The petitioner is accused of sexually assaulting the complainant, a third-year student, at gunpoint on July 29, 2022, and recording indecent video clips. He also threatened to publish the clips on the internet if she informed anyone of the assault.

While the petitioner denied all allegations, the complainant’s medico-legal certifi-

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cate and DNA test report proved him guilty of sexual assault. Police also recovered the pistol he allegedly used.

Before dismissing the bail, Justice Sheikh pointed out that the doctor performed the two-finger test on her during the medical examination.

Upon this, he specified seven key points for strict compliance and urged concerned authorities to arrange workshops for healthcare professionals to communicate what procedures need to be followed when examining survivors of sexual assault and rape.

The judge further directed them to ensure that medical opinions in cases involving rape and sexual assaults are in tune with the current definition of rape under section 375 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The justice stated that all medical examinations, including DNA tests, of rape and

sexual violence victims should be conducted under section 164-A and section 164-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) respectively.

The seven-point statement also asked to ensure strict compliance with section 13(I) of the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021 and to prohibit the use of the twofinger test during medical examinations of women and girls who have allegedly been victims of rape or sexual assault.

The judge particularly directed medical examiners to refrain from commenting on the victim’s past sexual history unless it is relevant to their physical condition and that they do not make findings, such as whether the patient is “habituated to sexual intercourse,” based on a medical examination.

Justice Sheikh stated that authorities should initiate appropriate proceedings

against individuals who conduct the two-finger test in contravention of the law.

“The SOPs for medico-legal examinations of victims of sexual violence should be updated in conformity with WHO Guidelines and circulated and made readily available in all government healthcare facilities,” he stated.

Concluding the judgement, Justice Sheikh stated, “To sum up, the two-finger test is not mandated by any law. It is a medical practice that has been incorporated into legal jurisprudence as a criterion for determining a victim’s character and, consequently, her consent, which is crucial in finding out whether rape occurred. However, this test has questionable probative value and infringes upon the survivor’s fundamental rights.”

He highlighted that rape and sexual assault victims have long-term emotional,

physical, and social impacts, including depression, guilt, diminished interest in sex, breakups of relationships, obsessive concern for safety, and loss of trust.

“Inserting fingers into the rape survivor’s vaginal or anal orifice can cause additional trauma because it not only replicates the original act of sexual violence but can also be painful. Owing to its invasive and forcible nature, the examination can cause genital injury, bleeding, and infection,” he stated. “The shame, guilt, and humiliation that the victim feels during the test may lead to panic attacks, shocks, and trauma.”

In Pakistan, under section 164-A of CrPc, the victim is required to undergo a medical examination as a part of the investigation relating to an offence committing rape, unnatural offence, sexual abuse or any attempt thereof.

Published by Asad Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk