In partnership with
PM, PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION TO STOP PALESTINIANS’ BLOODSHED Saturday, 11 November, 2023 I 26 Rabi us Sani, 1445
g
Profit
Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 132 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
g MAHMOUD ABBAS LAUDS PAKISTAN’S PRINCIPLED STANCE KAKAR REITERATES UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ESTABLISHMENT OF SOVEREIGN, VIABLE PALESTINIAN STATE ON RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION OF PALESTINIANS
C
RIYADH/ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
ARETAKER Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas who met ahead of Extraordinary Summit of the OIC here on Friday, underlined the need for international collaboration to stop Israel from further bloodshed. The two leaders are in Riyadh to attend the Saudi Arabia-convened Extraordinary Summit of the OIC to discuss the dire situation in occupied Palestine resulting from the aggression of the Israeli occupation forces both in Gaza and the West Bank. The prime minister conveying unflinching solidarity of Pakistan with the Palestinian people, strongly denounced the indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupation forces and bombing of hospitals,
refugee camps, schools and residential buildings, resulting in the loss of more than ten thousand precious lives and forced displacement of Palestinian families. President Abbas appreciated Pakistan’s expression of solidarity in this difficult time and its principled stance on the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. The two leaders emphasized the urgency of an unconditional ceasefire, end to the siege of Gaza and smooth delivery of vital humanitarian aid and medical assistance to the affected population. PM Kakar and President Abbas noted the timeliness of the Extraordinary Summit of the OIC and appealed to the global community, particularly the United Nations and its pertinent organizations, to take resolute measures to uphold principles of justice and humanity and end the carnage of the Palestinian people. He underscored Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to a fair and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
founded on the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital, along borders that existed prior to 1967 enshrined in several OIC resolutions. Deputy Governor Riyadh receives Kakar Earlier, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar arrived in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Friday to represent Pakistan at the emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the situation in Gaza. Deputy Governor Riyadh, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz received the prime minister on his arrival at the King Khalid International Airport. Pakistan’s Ambassador Ahmed Farooq and senior Saudi and Pakistani officials were present. During his three-day official visit, the prime minister will participate in the emergency meeting being held in Riyadh, which will discuss the Israeli aggression on Gaza. He will also hold sideline meetings with the visiting heads of state and government from other countries. Saudi Arabia has convened the extraordinary summit of the OIC to discuss the escalating situation in Gaza. Departure for Saudi Arabia Earlier, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday left for Saudi Arabia to represent Pakistan at the emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) being held over the situation in Gaza. During his three-day official visit, the prime minister will participate in the emergency meeting being held in Riyadh, which will discuss the Israeli aggression on Gaza. He will also hold sideline meetings with the visiting heads of state and government from other countries. Saudi Arabia has convened the extraordinary summit of the OIC to discuss the escalating situation in Gaza.
ISLAMABAD
g
STOCK MARKET WITNESSES RECORD-BREAKING RALLY AMID POSITIVE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND INVESTOR CONFIDENCE PROFIT
NEWS DESK
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its bullish momentum on Friday, as the benchmark KSE-100 Index crossed the 55,000 level for the first time in history. At 11:50 am, the index gained 1090 points or 2.01 % to reach 55,351.47 points. The benchmark index has witnessed a trading volume of over 27.027 million shares. The KSE-100 index was supported by oil & gas exploration companies with 284.95, commercial banks with 161.15, fertilizer with 123.7, cement with 103.28, and power generation & distribution with 84.14 points. The top contributors to the index were OGDC with 98.67, HUBC with 84.56, ENGRO with 72.01, PPL with 67.51, and LUCK with 66.6 points. The All-Share index also broke its all-time high, reaching at 36,715.71 with a net gain of 569.06 points. The rally was driven by positive sentiments across various sectors, including automobile, cement, chemical, fertilizer, power, refinery, oil and gas exploration and marketing. The investors were also encouraged by the improved macroeconomic indicators, such as the decline in current account deficit and inflation. One of the main factors that boosted the market was the result of the Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIB) auction, which showed a significant fall in bond yields. This signaled that the market was expecting a rate cut by the central bank in the near future. The PSX has been on a rising trend since the start of the year, gaining over 18% in 2023. The market has also witnessed record activity, with the highest ever trading volume of 2.8 billion shares on Wednesday. The PSX has become one of the best performing markets in the region, attracting both local and foreign investors. The market capitalization has reached $86 billion, making it the 40th largest stock exchange in the world.
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday telephoned President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas and assured Pakistan’s continued support for resolving the Palestinian dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The president expressed his heartfelt sympathies and grief on behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan over the atrocities being committed by Israel against the people of Palestine. He deplored the situation in Gaza, terming it “very painful” and said that the entire Pakistani nation was deeply saddened by the brutalities and reign of terror unleashed by the Israeli security forces. He strongly condemned the lethal bombing by Israel which even did not spare schools and hospitals. The barbaric actions, he said, resulted in killing of thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, healthcare workers, journalists and UN aid workers. The president said the current situation in Gaza was the reaction of decades of apartheid and unjust policies of Israel. He condemned Israel for ethnic cleansing against the Muslims and pushing them out of their territories. President Alvi regretted the lack of action on part of the international community to stop Israel from its murderous campaign against the people of Gaza. He urged the international community
MQM-P, PML-N ‘agreed’ on seat adjustment, not electoral alliance: Siddiqui STAFF REPORT
PSX: KSE-100 crosses 55,000 level first time in history
Dr Alvi assures Mahmoud Abbas of Pakistan’s continued support
In the middle of fast-turning political dynamics, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Friday clarified that his party did not reach any electoral alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), rather they had developed a consensus over “issues the country faced with.” “Look, there is no electoral alliance with the PML-N rather we discussed supporting each other for fair and transparent elections and seat adjustment”, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui elaborated while speaking at a talk show on a private TV channel. On Tuesday, a three-member MQM-P delegation comprising Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, and Mustafa Kamal called on the Sharif brothers — Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif — in Model Town Lahore. After the meeting, the PMLN declared that both parties had decided to form an electoral alliance in light of an understanding reached in April last year when the MQM had joined the Shehbaz-led coalition government. Yesterday, however, senior MQM-P leader and former federal minister Aminul Haque clarified that it was not an electoral
alliance as both parties would contest the election on their respective election symbol. The MQM-P convener also claimed that the joint statement issued after the meeting with the PML-N leadership did not mention an electoral alliance. During the interview when Siddiqui was asked about the MQM’s motivations for entering into a supposed electoral alliance with the PML-N, he replied: “First of all, the joint statement issued did not mention an electoral alliance,” the MQM leader said. He said that Nawaz had returned to the country after a long time, adding that MQM had a past with the PML-N which had seen ups and downs. He, however, conceded that both the parties did talk about general elections — which are scheduled for February 8. Siddiqui shared insights into the meetings with political leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, highlighting the historical context of MQM’s interactions with various political elites. He stressed that discussions about contesting elections together, forming a government, and determining the chief minister have not taken place, adding that MQM-P does not traditionally form electoral alliances, but seat adjustments are possible, although not finalized at this stage. Regarding specific govern-
ment positions, the MQM convener stated that discussions about the chief minister and ministries were not on the agenda, and his party might not include such matters in the agreements at this time. Reflecting on the meeting’s positive atmosphere, Siddiqui highlighted the crises facing Pakistan and the need for cooperation on a joint strategy. He clarified that discussions about contesting elections together, forming a government, and determining the chief minister were premature. The extent of this cooperation will be further deliberated. He said that the party wanted the Constitution to be strengthened so that it could not only protect itself, but also the people. Siddiqui said that the MQM met with the PML-N, terming it a “very good” meeting. He reiterated that the two talked about a joint strategy for the myriad of crises facing the country. He said that neither the MQM-P nor the PML-N had stated that the two parties would contest the elections together. “Nor has there been any talk of how much share will we have in the government or who the chief minister will be. These matters are for the future. Besides, MQM does not form electoral alliances. Yes, seat adjustment has happened and can happen but that has also not been decided this time.”
to make efforts for urgent ceasefire, opening of an unhindered humanitarian corridor to Gaza, stopping further displacement of the Palestinians from their homeland and permanent solution to the Palestinian dispute in accordance with the UNSC resolutions. The president said that if the two-state solution was not acceptable to Israel, then one-state solution was the only way where Jews, Muslims and a good percentage of Christians could live to exercise equal political rights. He called for stopping Israel from fighting across the Palestinian territory. He also demanded for opening of a corridor to Gaza to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance as there was no food, medicine and electricity available to the people of Gaza. Palestinian President Mehmood Abbas said that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. He called for stopping Israel from fighting across the Palestinian territory. He also demanded opening of a corridor to Gaza to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance as there was no food, medicine and electricity available for the people of Gaza.
Misconduct hearing: Justice Naqvi seeks CJP among three SJC members’ recusal ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi on Friday sought recusal of three members of the Supreme Judicial Council, including Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, due to hear misconduct complaints against him. In his preliminary reply to a show-cause notice issued by the SJC on October 28, 2023, Justice Naqvi raised objections to the participation of three judicial members, namely CJP Isa, Justice Sardar Tariq and Justice Naeem Afghan, and sought their recusal based on “bias” and other grounds. Justice Naqvi has contended that the proceedings against him are politically motivated and lack legality, propriety and transparency. “The interests of justice, the due process of law and the requirements of natural justice dictate that no further proceedings of the SJC with regard to the so-called complaints against me be presided over or participated in by Mr Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Mr. Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Mr. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan. “Such action will also not be unprecedented. During the hearing of constitutional petitions challenging the Reference against Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa objections were raised against Mr. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Mr Justice Sardar Tariq Masood (who were members of the learned Bench hearing the petitions). “Without accepting the objections, both learned Judges, in the interest of propriety, recused themselves from the Bench,” wrote Justice Naqvi in his 18-page preliminary reply submitted before the SJC. Justice Naqvi asserted that the three senior judges ought not to hear the complaints against him in the interest of propriety, justice and fairness. “Their participation in the proceedings resulting in a Show Cause Notice being issued to me taints those proceedings, inter alia, with bias and makes all orders passed in such proceedings as being without lawful authority and of no legal effect,” he wrote.
Israel targets Gaza hospitals as death toll crosses 11,000 mark GAZA
AGENCIES
Israeli air strikes hit three Gaza hospitals and a school on Friday, killing at least 22 people, and a ground battle was underway at another hospital, Palestinian officials said, as Israel’s forces took on Hamas in the heart of the enclave. The health ministry in Gaza said the number of Palestinians killed in Israel’s attack since October 7 has risen to at least 11,078, Al Jazeera reported. The death toll includes at least 4,506 children, the ministry said. Officials said missiles landed in the courtyard of Gaza’s biggest hospital, AlShifa, in the early hours, damaged the Indonesian Hospital and reportedly set fire to the Nasser Rantissi pediatric cancer hospital. The hospitals are in northern Gaza and are full of displaced people as well
as patients and doctors. Israeli tanks, which have been advancing through northern Gaza for almost two weeks, have taken up positions around the Nasser Rantissi, Children’s and Eye hospitals as well as the Al-Quds hospital, medical staff said ealier, raising the alarm. “Israel is now launching a war on Gaza City hospitals,” Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, director of Shifa Hospital, which was struck by missiles early on Friday, told Reuters. With the Palestinian death toll surpassing the grim 11,000 mark, Israeli forces — as part of their ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip — stooped to a new low as their snipers targeted the Al Quds hospital, Al Arabiya reported on Friday. According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), the attack martyred one Palestinian and injured 28 others — the majority of whom were children. “Two of them [wounded children are]
in critical condition due to the occupation snipers targeting the hospital. Additionally, there are injuries from shrapnel of artillery shells west of the hospital,” the statement from the PRCS reads. “Two of them [wounded children are] in critical condition due to the occupation snipers targeting the hospital. Additionally, there are injuries from shrapnel of artillery shells west of the hospital,” the statement from the PRCS read. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has refused to comment on the incident when approached by the AFP. The situation has been further exacerbated as the staff at the Al Quds hospital are facing difficulty due to power outages. “The hospital remains isolated for the fifth day, as all roads leading to it are closed due to bombardment in the surrounding areas,” the PRCS said warning that the facility might have to shut down its operation in the next few hours due to fuel shortage. Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta, a surgeon in
Gaza, has said that the strip’s largest medical facility — Al-Shifa Hospital — which is providing services to thousands amid the ongoing war has “collapsed” “Shifa hospital has collapsed. Wounded and staff leaving in droves. Missile attacks this morning on outpatient dept. which housed internally displaced,” he said. Al-Shifa Hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya said the number of people killed by the Israeli strike at alBuraq school has increased to 50. “About 50 martyrs were recovered from inside al-Buraq school … after missile and artillery strikes that targeted the school this morning,” Salmiya was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. The victims, many of whom were internally displaced Palestinians who had been sheltering at the school, were transported to Al-Shifa Hospital.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03