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ATTEMPT TO EQUATE ISRAEL’S AGGRESSION TO PALESTINIANS’ STRUGGLE UNACCEPTABLE: JILLANI
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Monday, 16 October, 2023 I 29 Rabi ul Awwal, 1445
SAYS AS MATTER OF FACT IT IS A GENOCIDE BEING CONDUCTED BY ISRAEL AGAINST POOR PEOPLE OF PALESTINE
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Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 106 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
STRESSES PALESTINIANS’ RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION MUST BE RESPECTED AND SHOULD BE GIVEN STATUS OF SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT STATE
Pro-Gaza rallies draw thousands to show solidarity with Palestinians
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
S Israel’s brutalities continued against innocent population in Gaza, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Sunday equated Israel’s airstrikes civilians and the siege of the territory to conducting genocide of the people of Palestine, saying Pakistan condemned the siege of Gaza and aggression and airstrikes on Palestinians. “Any attempt to equate Israel’s aggression to that of Palestinians’ struggle is unacceptable to Pakistan and Palestinians’ right to self-determination must be respected and Palestine should be given a status of separate and independent state, accepted by not only Israel but also the international community with pre-1967 borders with Quds Al-Sharif as its capital”, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani made the remarks while addressing a press conference in Islamabad here on Sunday. The minister noted that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had called an emergency meeting of its executive committee in Jeddah on October 18, adding that he would be in attendance. “Certainly, Palestine is a very, very, important issue for us. We will certainly discuss the ongoing situation. There is absolutely no doubt that Israel has committed aggression. They have conducted airstrikes on the civilian population which has resulted in the death of several innocent men, women and children,” he said, adding that Pakistan also condemned the “siege of Gaza”. The statement comes after Israel imposed a “total siege” to stop food and fuel from reaching the enclave of 2.3 million people, many poor and dependent on aid in response to a surprise Hamas offensive last week that left 1,300 Israelis dead, according to officials.
KARACHI/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
In retaliatory air and artillery strikes, Israeli forces have flattened entire neighbourhoods, hospitals and schools in Gaza. Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since last week have killed at least 2,215 people, including 724 children, the Palestinian territory’s Hamascontrolled health ministry said on Saturday. Jilani noted that the residents of Gaza did not have access to food, water or health facilities. “This is a situation that can be equated with genocide. Matter of fact it is a genocide being conducted by Israel against the poor people of Palestine.” He said that Pakistan’s position was that Israel must respect United Nations resolutions which recognised the right of self-determination. “We also feel that this is also the result of seven decades of illegal occupation of […] Palestinian territories.” He also said that “any attempt to equate Israel, which is an aggressor, with the Palestinian struggle, is unacceptable for Pakistan.”
He said that Pakistan demanded that the Palestinian right to self-determination be respected. He called for recognising Palestine as a separate state with pre-1967 borders and AlQuds Al-Sharif as its capital. “That remains Pakistan’s consistent position with regards to this particular issue,” he said. Responding to a question from a reporter, he said that Pakistan was in touch with UN agencies and international organisations to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. “Our missions in Geneva and New York are also in touch with the UN agencies concerned. But unfortunately, so far there is a complete siege as far as Gaza is concerned,” he said. He said that Pakistan was ready to provide immediate aid and was also in touch with Egyptian authorities. “We have been told only this morning that Israel is not allowing any assistance as of now.
PM assigns TCP to find out why cotton being sold below fixed rate ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Interim govt to ensure elections in peaceful manner: Solangi ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Sunday said concerted efforts were underway to ensure the upcoming election in a peaceful and amicable environment. Talking to Dawn News Television in a programme titled “In Focus”, the minister said the caretaker government had been performing its duties and responsibilities in accordance with the constitution and law. He said the political activities should be observed in a way that did not affect the day-to-day affairs of the general public. “If anyone is facing harassment, they can approach the Election Commission,” he said, adding the ECP was a constitutional body. Solangi said the caretaker government wanted good terms with all the political parties.”We want to create a pleasant environment for elections and we want elections that are acceptable to everyone,” he added. The minister said the electoral history of Pakistan suggested that the polls were held in the country during extreme weathers. The first election was held in December 1970, he added. The Election Commission of Pakistan had announced the date for elections in the last week of January, he said while ruling out any problem in holding the election visà-vis weather conditions. “After the completion of delimitation, political parties will be given 54 days for the electoral campaign,” he responded to a query. Solangi said the caretaker government was taking effective measures to address economic issues. The administrative measures taken by the caretaker government had stabilized the rupee, he added. Actions were being taken against smuggling, the minister noted. To another query, he ruled out any official protocol to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif in London. “Nawaz Sharif has not received any official protocol in London,” said the information minister, adding the matter related to return of Nawaz Sharif was not taken up by the caretaker cabinet at all. “I do not believe in assumptions and speculations since things are very clear in front of us,” the minister remarked. He said there was no restriction on mentioning any individual in the media since the caretaker government firmly believed in freedom of expression. Maulana Fazlur Rehman was a seasoned politician, he said while responding to another query. A large number of illegal immigrants had started returning to their countries, he stressed.
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Tens of thousands packed a main thoroughfare in the southern port city of Karachi on Sunday as they took out a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and to denounce Israeli bombardment on Gaza. The march was led by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), one of the country’s mainstream religiopolitical party, with the backing of several other political parties and trade associations. Sporting arm and headbands engraved with slogans “Labbaik ya Gaza” (Gaza we are here), and “Labbaik ya Aqsa” (Aqsa we are here), the protesters rallied at Shahrahe-Faisal. A large number of women and children, as well as religious minorities, were part of the march, with organizers claiming over 100,000 people participated. The protesters chanted “down with Israel” in unison, as JI chief Sirajul Haq, along with other politicians, formed a human chain. Addressing the rally, Haq expressed concern over growing number of casualties in Gaza, accusing Tel Aviv of deliberately targeting civilians. “Palestine is a part of our faith. We will never leave you (Palestinians) alone,” he said, adding that Palestinians will never surrender to subjugation. Criticizing the “double standards” of the West, he said, the US and Europe had different benchmarks for Palestine and Ukraine. “You support Ukrainians in their war against occupation, but justify the Israeli subjugation of Palestine,” he said. JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman dubbed Israel as a “terrorist state,” accusing
Taking notice of the buying of cotton below the price fixed by the government to support farmers, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Sunday directed the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to look into the matter and submit a report in this connection. The government had fixed the price of cotton, but it was being observed that it was purchased from farmers below that minimum rate in some places, the PM Office Media Wing said in a news statement. The interim premier noted that the yielding of a bumper cotton crop was a blessing for the country and its maximum profits should be reaped by the farmers. He added that the government had issued clear instructions over its purchase price to protect the farmers against any losses, In March this year, the then premier Shehbaz Sharif approved Rs8,500 per 40 kg (maund) as the support price of cotton to facilitate its farmers, In August, the TCP decided to purchase one million bales of cotton following the fall in its prices in the open market below the in-
tervention threshold. It invited bids from cotton procurement agents, acquirement firms and labour contractors. At that time, Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq said the subsidised rates for electricity and gas to textile mills had been withdrawn on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF pressure). Coupled with a record hike in production costs, an unusual decline was observed in cotton purchases by the textile mills. Consequently, cotton prices slid from Rs9,500 to the range of between Rs7,500 to Rs8,000 per maund in the open market. Last Wednesday, the government projected cotton production at 11.5 million bales from cultivation over an area of 2.4 million hectares this season, which shows a significant jump of 126.6% over the output of last year. STABILIZING COTTON PRICE IN COLLABORATION WITH TCP’: Earlier, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik on Sunday met Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Syed Mohsin Naqvi and exchanged views over the steps that could be taken to increase different crops’ production in the province.
The minister, on the occasion, congratulated the chief minister on getting record cotton production this year. Malik was also appreciative of CM Naqvi’s decision to hold provincial cabinet meetings at divisional headquarters. Both also discussed fixing the prices of different crops. They agreed on stabilizing the rate of cotton crop in collaboration with the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). The chief minister urged the federal government that in order to achieve the objective, it should purchase the crop from the TCP. The chief minister was of the view that stability in prices was necessary if farmers were to be given complete reward for their hard work after getting increased cotton production. Terming increased cotton production as a good omen, he said that foreign exchange could be earned through the export of value-added products. CARETAKER CM PUNJAB CALLS ON PM: Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday called on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar. During the meeting, they discussed matters related to the province, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
the US and some European countries of being complicit in “Israeli war crimes.” The conflict began last Saturday when Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel – a multipronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. Hamas said the surprise attack was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians. The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel’s response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has endured a crippling siege since 2007, as well as ordering more than 1 million Gazans in the northern strip to evacuate to the southern strip. Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman led a rally, with participants holding placards bearing messages of support for the Palestinian people. The demonstrators marched from Baloch Colony to Nursery bus stop on foot under the leadership of the JI leader. Participants in the rally fervently expressed their anger through chants denouncing Israel’s aggression. RAWALPINDI: Similarly, a rally was also held in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh, drawing scores of participants who vehemently condemned the Israeli aggression against innocent unarmed civilians in Palestine.
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‘No less than any festivity’: Govt slashes petrol price by Rs40, diesel Rs15 ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
No less than any festivity for the inflation-hit masses, the caretaker government on Sunday slashed prices of petrol by Rs40 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs15 for the next fortnight. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the new price of petrol is Rs283.38 and Rs303.18 for HSD. It said that the government has revised the consumer prices of petroleum products in the wake of variations in international prices of the commodity and improvement in the exchange rate. The new prices will come into effect from 12am (tonight, October 16) and remain in place till October 31. New prices of petroleum products for the fortnight starting from October 16 will be as follow: In addition to this, the government also cut the prices of light diesel by Rs19.59 per litre and kerosene oil by Rs22.43 for the next fortnight. After the massive reduction in the prices of petroleum products, the rates of kerosene oil will drop to Rs214.85 per litre. The interim government, led by Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, is charging zero general sales tax (GST) on all petroleum products while the rate of petroleum levy (PL) on petrol is Rs60 per litre. In order to generate additional revenue to achieve the tax collection target for this fiscal year, the authorities, however, increased the levy on diesel by Rs5 to Rs55 per litre.
PIA looking to banks for Rs7b loan to avert disruption, suspension of flight operation ISLAMABAD
MONITORING REPORT
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has urgently sought additional loan amounting to over Rs7 billion to sustain its operations as the national flag carrier is grappling with severe financial issues, fuelling concerns about potential disruptions or even complete suspension of flight operations. In order to address the growing concerns, the PIA administration has reached out to the Aviation Division, urging them to arrange an immediate loan of more than Rs7 billion from banks. A letter dispatched to the division by the PIA mentions that the government of Pakistan’s guarantee includes an option for the airline to secure a loan of Rs7.5 billion. Interestingly, no bank has shown any interest in providing a loan of Rs5 billion to the airline due to the severe fi-
nancial problems faced by the PIA. The letter further states that due to financial issues, fuel supply in Jeddah and Dubai was halted, and the Pakistan State Oil (PSO)—the state-owned oil marketing company— also refused to supply fuel to the airline. It says the International Air Transport Association (IATA) membership can also be suspended at any time. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has also issued notices to the airline. The letter urges the Ministry of Finance to intervene immediately and instruct banks to provide a loan of Rs7.5 billion under the government’s guarantee. The letter has been sent by the General Manager Funds Management to the Deputy Director Division for necessary action. Last month, on September 22, the caretaker privatization minister had announced that the government would not ground the PIA — its highest loss-mak-
ing enterprise — and that no employee of any entity would be sacked even after its privatisation. The statement had come hours after interim Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar said the government would give any support needed to keep the PIA in the skies. According to a report published in The Express Tribune, the two separate statements were apparently aimed at pacifying lobbies working to save the airline despite a severe financial crisis. “The prime minister has instructed me that the PIA would not be grounded. We have already worked out a way to keep the PIA flying,” said Minister for Privatization Fawad Hassan Fawad while responding to a question at a news conference. Earlier the PIA had requested a moratorium on its domestic debt repayments to bridge an annual deficit of Rs153 billion between its sales and es-
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sential expenditures. The PIA management and the Ministry of Finance were in discussions for about Rs260 billion domestic debts restructuring that the airline owed to nine commercial banks. Fawad had told the media that he was reviewing a plan shared by the PIA and had yet to reach a decision. The PIA’s plan revolves around debt restructuring, blocking tax payments of the FBR and not paying fees and charges of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) but doing nothing to improve its administrative affairs. “We will have to give support to the PIA, as the government has 92% stakes in the airline,” Dr Shamshad Akhtar had said on the same day while addressing a separate news conference. “If needed, the government would also restructure the PIA debt but the final decision would be taken by the privatisation minister,” she had added.