ISLAMABAD
APP53-111223
ISLAMABAD
First Lady Begum Samina Arif Alvi addressing the prize distribution ceremony of breast cancer awareness cricket match
ISLAMABAD
First Lady Begum Samina Arif Alvi addressing the prize distribution ceremony of breast cancer awareness cricket match
ISLAMABAD
APP51-111223
ISLAMABAD
Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens as Israeli bombardment continues: UN
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 11 (APP): The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, reiterated deep concerns for the people of war-torn Gaza on Monday, amid reports of intense fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters in Gaza City and Jabalia in the north of the Strip, and in Khan Yunis in the south, while Israeli bombardment of the enclave has continued.
Speaking in Doha at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview, Griffiths said that the situation was ‘getting worse’, while efforts to secure ‘moments of peace’ remained of the ‘greatest importance’.
According to the latest update on the emergency from UN Relief Coordination Office (OCHA), tens of thousands of people ‘in desperate need of food, water, shelter, health and protection’ who recently fled to Rafah in the south, had waited for hours around aid distribution centres.
OCHA’s latest update on the violence which began on 7 October also indicated that the lack of adequate sanitation had led to ‘widespread’ open-air defecation, increasing fears of disease spread.
According to the Gazan health authorities, about 18,000 people have now been killed in Gaza since the fighting began; about 70 per cent are said to be women and children; and more than 49,000 people are reportedly injured.
Griffiths thanked Qatar for its ‘creative diplomacy’ as part of efforts to ‘bring moments of peace’ to the embattled enclave.
He stressed that ‘the intensification of the military operation that we have been hearing about in the south of Gaza and the threats to neighbouring countries’ make those efforts ‘all the more important’.
OCHA reiterated that the UN’s ability to receive incoming aid had been ‘significantly impaired over the past few days’,
due to a shortage of trucks within Gaza, telecommunications blackouts and aid workers being prevented by the fighting from getting to the Rafah crossing through which a trickle of relief items is entering from Egypt.
Over the weekend 150,000 litres of fuel per day on average entered from Egypt, OCHA said. This is higher than the previous daily average of 67,000 litres but still represented ‘the bare minimum needed to prevent the collapse of critical services’ including hospitals and ambulances, water and sanitation as well as shelters for the displaced.
Sunday also saw the arrival of some 45 tonnes of cooking gas from Egypt, ‘the first such delivery since the resumption of hostilities’ after a seven-day ceasefire ended on 1 December, OCHA said.
Lynn Hastings, the top UN aid official for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said on Sunday that ‘Israel has the obligation as the occupying power to ensure that sufficient hygiene and public health standards as well as the provision of food and medical care are available to the population under occupation.’
According to OCHA, multiple health facilities and personnel were attacked across the Gaza Strip over the weekend, notably in Jabalia in the north, where two medical staff were reportedly killed while on duty inside the besieged Al Awda Hospital during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups.
On Saturday, a World Health Organization (WHO)-led UN and Palestine Red Crescent Society convoy delivered medical supplies to Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City and evacuated 19 critically injured patients.
OCHA said that the convoy was ‘delayed by Israeli forces at a checkpoint in Wadi Gaza’ for ‘extensive screenings’ and that one of the evacuated patients died during the trip southwards while a paramedic was detained for four hours, during which he was interrogated and reportedly beaten and intimidated.
Humanitarian access to the north of the Strip where hundreds of thousands of civilians are still sheltering remains ‘severely constrained’, OCHA said.
In Khan Yunis in the south, an ambulance near the European Hospital came under fire, reportedly by Israeli forces on Saturday, OCHA said, and two paramedics were injured. On Sunday the area around the hospital was repeatedly bombarded for the third consecutive day according to OCHA, depriving dozens of injured people from access to treatment.
Quoting Gaza’s health authorities, OCHA said that since 7 October, at least 286 health workers have been killed and 57 ambulances have been hit and damaged.
Meeting in a special session on Sunday, WHO’s Executive Board adopted a resolution on aid access to Gaza and respect for international humanitarian law, hailed by the agency’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as a ‘starting point’ and a
‘platform on which to build’, as he reiterated that without peace, there is no health.
OCHA also highlighted that over the weekend in the north of the enclave Israeli forces ‘reportedly detained hundreds of men and boys staying in public spaces, schools serving as shelters for internally displaced persons as well as private homes’.
“Reportedly, detainees were stripped to their underwear, handcuffed, and ordered to sit on their knees in open areas, subjected to beatings, harassment, harsh weather and denial of basic necessities”, OCHA said, while images of them were circulated on social media.
OCHA added that according to the Israeli military, those suspected of links to Hamas were transferred to Israel for interrogation, while others were released.
SC serves notices to AGP, AGs in lifetime disqualification case
ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP): The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday served notices to the Attorney General of Pakistan and advocate generals of all provinces in a matter pertaining to lifetime disqualifications.
A three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa heard the disqualification case of JUI-F’s ex-MPA Meer Badshah Khan Qaisrani.
During the course of proceedings, the bench took notice on the contradiction between the apex court’s verdict on lifetime disqualification and amendments in the Election Act 2017, and sent the matter to the judges committee to fix the case before a larger bench.
The CJP remarked that no one had challenged the amendments in the Election Act. In the elections are on, returning officers, election tribunals and courts would be in a quandary whether to rely on the Election Act or the SC judgment, he observed.
He said that the Constitution was silent on the period of disqualification under Article 62(1)(F) and Article 63(1)(G), which disqualified a parliamentarian for 5 years while Article 63(1)(H) disqualified for three years for moral offences.
CJP Isa remarked that the real disqualification was under Article 63. The person who destroyed Pakistan should not enter politics again, but the disqualification on that count was five years.
“The language of the Constitution has to be looked at as everything is not clearly stated. What is not clear in the Constitution can be interpreted by the Supreme Court,” he added.
The court that the case would be heard in January 2024 but it could not be used as a pretext to delay the general elections.
The court also instructed to publish the notice of the case in two national English newspapers. Any political party could become a respondent in the case.
The court also instructed to send the order copy of it to Election Commission of Pakistan.
Earlier, during the hearing, the chief justice inquired that why Qaisrani was disqualified. To this, this petitioner’s lawyer said that his client was disqualified in 2007 on the charge of holding a fake degree but the high court allowed him to contest elections in 2018 as he submitted degree of matriculation.
He said that the lifetime disqualification of his client still sustained.
The further hearing of the case was then adjourned.
Zaka Ashraf calls on PM Kakar
LAHORE, Dec 11 (APP):Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Zaka Ashraf called on Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar at the latter’s office in Islamabad.
According to a PCB press release issued here on Monday, the Prime Minister, as Patron PCB, appreciated measures adopted by the PCB management committee and assured his support. PM Kakar directed the Chairman MC to expand PCB’s outreach to remote regions of the country.
The premier further promised his government’s support in successful conduct of the ninth edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL). Addressing concerns about potential scheduling clashes with general election day in February, Kakar said adjustments to the HBL PSL matches should be made to prevent any interference with the voting process.
Emphasising significance of fostering stronger bonds with other cricket boards, PM Kakar commended PCB’s efforts and stressed the importance of enhancing relations with boards like Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar asked the PCB to collaborate with stakeholders and security agencies in preparation for the successful hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. He reiterated the government’s support for the PCB’s initiatives aimed at fostering cricket across all levels within the country.
Indian apex court verdict: Blatant violation of UN resolutions on unresolved global Kashmir dispute: AJK President
MIRPUR ( AJK): Dec 11 (APP) :: Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry has said that the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict on abrogation of article 370 violated the United Nations resolutions besides acknowledging the disputed nature of the Kashmir call for holding a memorandum to allow Kashmiri people to determine their political future.
Reacting on Monday to the Indian court verdict upholding the validity of the Modi Government’s 2019 decision to repeal the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under Article 370 of the Constitution, Barrister Chaudhry said that the judgement not only violates the Indian constitution but also the UNSC resolutions that recognize the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir.
Terming Kashmir an internationally recognized disputed territory, the president said that Kashmiris were not bound to any such decision. The Indian Supreme Court’s decision, he said was a biased and lopsided decision that favours to none but the Modi government in pursuing the Hindutva policies.
Commenting on the biased verdict delivered by a five-member bench headed by chief justice of India, Barrister Chaudhry said that the judgement has left India’s so-called democracy and secular exposed at the international level. The Court ruling, he said, was a clear violation of UN resolutions and international laws.
Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry said that India should realize the fact that it cannot suppress the legitimate struggle and aspirations of the Kashmiri people with its guns.
“Kashmiris will continue their struggle till they achieve freedom from Indian occupation”, he said.
US official calls on Finance Minister
ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP): United States Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Affairs Elizabeth Horst called on Caretaker Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Dr Shamshad Akhtar here on Monday.
Extending a warm welcome to Elizabeth and her delegation, the finance minister said Pakistan and the US enjoyed a long-term, broad-based and multi-dimensional relationship, a news release said.
The minister apprised the visiting delegation of the policies and economic reform agenda which aimed to bring economic and fiscal stability to the country.
She further briefed on key reforms being undertaken by the caretaker government including state-owned entities,
privatization and reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue.
She also informed about the restructuring of the FBR to make it more efficient in documenting and digitization of the economy, adding “We have been successful in concluding the first review with IMF recently.”
Elizabeth Horst thanked the finance minister and extended full support of the US government and its people to the government of Pakistan.
She further underscored that both countries enjoyed good relations and extended her support to further promote bilateral economic relations.
The finance minister thanked Elizabeth Horst and reiterated the desire to further deepen bilateral trade and investment ties with the USA.
Wall of Martyrs – a good initiative to remember sacrifices of martyred heroes: Bilawal
ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday visited ‘Wall of Martyrs’ at the Interior Ministry and commended the step to remember the sacrifices of the martyred heroes.
Talking to the media after hoisting the picture of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto at ‘The Wall of Martyrs’, Bilawal said he was grateful to Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti for the initiative.
“The ‘Wall of Martyrs’ is an initiative we appreciate, as it has immortalised the sacrifices of the martyrs,” he added.
The martyrs of the country, he said, included politicians, policemen, lawyers, judges, and the army soldiers, who had been a target of terrorism and they all rendered great sacrifices.
As a result of their struggle, peace was achieved and terrorism was eradicated from the country, he added. Unfortunately, a decision was later taken which undermined the efforts of the martyrs.
Bilawal Bhutto said when the transition of power was taken place in Afghanistan, a decision that was taken without the input of the Parliament or the people, allowed for engagement with the very terrorists who had been defeated by the police, army and public.
He said the terrorists imprisoned in Pakistan were released and side by side those responsible for attacking Pakistan from Afghanistan were also released there.
They then were invited by Imran Khan to settle in huge numbers in the tribal areas, the very same regions from where they had been chased out, he added. Imran Khan, while in opposition during the unity government, publicly accepted that terrorists were resettled in Pakistan which was the cause behind the country having to suffer through the same crisis again, Bilawal said.
“Our army and police are still targets of terrorism and the State should ponder upon how this can happen through a U-turn taken overnight without the permission of the Parliament and the people despite the country’s continuous struggle to get rid of terrorism. Once again, our army soldiers, policemen and people will have to combat the terrorists and defeat them,” he added.
Responding to questions, Bilawal said that those involved in the process and decision making should be investigated and their intentions should be made clear.
“It should also be ensured that such a decision is not taken in the future, otherwise, it shall be difficult for us to convince our people to fight if they are under the impression that a U-turn will be taken again and resultantly their efforts will be futile. Our demand is that this issue should be investigated, because such a momentous decision was taken without taking the Parliament or the people into loop. This is imperative for ensuring that a decision with such grave consequences is not taken again,” he added.
Bilawal said that the country’s priority should be to bring the terrorists involved in grave crimes against the State to book. “We will continuously engage with Afghanistan, as we did during the unity government. Neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan can get rid of terrorism without working together. We believe in free and fair elections as well as ‘One Man, One Vote’,” he said.
He said that it had been proved once again that India was grossly violating the international law and norms, as well as the resolutions of the United Nations.
He said the international powers would now need to review their support for India, as it was repeatedly abusing international laws. “Be it the Parliament or the judiciary of India, they cannot rewrite the UN resolutions and international agreements. No matter how many times they reiterate their claim over Kashmir, as far as international law is concerned, Kashmir is a disputed territory and the matter is to be resolved as per the law and resolutions.”
Responding to a question, he said that when Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was alive, she was the Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party, while Makhdoom Ameen Faheem was heading the parliamentary wing of the party, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians. After entering politics, he continued that tradition and he was currently heading the PPP, he added.
Talking about the presidential reference regarding Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said that he was grateful to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa for taking up the case for hearing.
Bilawal said that he had submitted an application in 2018 for the case to be heard. He has also submitted an application for this case to be aired live as this is being done for other cases too, since efforts were made to brush important issues under the rug in the past. Those involved in this crime should be exposed before the nation. “Justice should not only be done, justice should be seen to be done in Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s Case”, Bilawal said.
Indian apex court miserably failed in upholding the merit and demands of justice: AJK PM Anwar ul Haq.
MIRPUR ( AJK): , Dec 11 (APP):Azad Jammu Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, while condemning the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the presidential order regarding the revocation of Kashmir’s special status, has stated that the Indian apex court has miserably failed in upholding the merit and demands of justice.
In a special statement issued here on Monday, the AJK prime minister termed the court verdict as tantamount to murdering justice and robbing Kashmiris of their constitutional and human rights. Terming the abrogation of 370 and 35A by the Indian government as illegal and unconstitutional, the PM said Kashmiris had no hope from the Supreme Court of India.
“I was pretty sure that the Supreme Court of India will go the extra mile to defend the Indian government’s decision”, he said, adding that Kashmiris had no faith in the Indian state apparatus, not even in its pliant judiciary.”All Indian institutions including the judiciary have been equally responsible for the current mess and worsening political and human rights situation in the occupied Kashmir”, he said.
He, however, maintained that the Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle for right to self determination would continue despite the Indian government’s policies of deceit and deception.
“The Indian judiciary has a history of being biased towards Kashmiris. It has never given any relief to the Kashmiri people”, he said, adding that the Supreme Court through its recent verdict has proved it beyond any doubt that it was acting on the whims and fancies of the Indian establishment.
Terming Kashmir as an internationally recognized disputed territory, the PM made it clear that the Indian supreme court’s decision cannot change the disputed status of the state.
Badar Shahbaz appointed as assistant secretary PML-N
ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP):President of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Shehbaz Sharif, on Monday appointed Badar Shahbaz as the Assistant Secretary of the PML-N.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, PML-N’s Secretary Information, confirmed in a tweet that a notification, signed by Party Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, has officially appointed Badar Shahbaz as the Assistant Secretary of the party.
Badar Shahbaz, a seasoned member and a notable figure in the media team, had previously served as the media coordinator of former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 16-month cabinet.
Badar Shahbaz, a seasoned member and a notable figure in the media team, had previously served as the media coordinator of former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 16-month cabinet.
She extended congratulations to Badar Shahbaz for his appointment as the Assistant Secretary of Information, offered prayers for his success in the days ahead, and wished him diligence in fulfilling his new responsibilities.