LAHORE, May 17 (APP):Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the martyred Col
Sohail Abid, who embraced shahadat during an operation against terrorists in Kuli Almas area of Balochistan.
He also prayed for early recovery of the injured officials.
Shehbaz Sharif extended heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved family and said Col Sohail Abid sacrificed his life for the peaceful future of the nation and his sacrifice would never be forgotten.
He said the purpose for which Col Sohail rendered his life was the mission of the whole nation and brave sons like him were the national heroes.
“Armed forces of Pakistan, police, security agencies and ordinary citizens have rendered invaluable sacrifices in the war against terrorism and their sacrifices would never go waste,” concluded the chief minister.
CM pays tributes to bravery of martyred Col. Abid
Terrorists on run, peace prevails because of productive security operation: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP):Minister for Interior, Ahsan Iqbal Thursday said the successful operation of security forces had weakened networks of terrorists who were on the run now.
Terrorism has been curtailed to a large extent in 2018 as compared to five years back, and people are now seeing peace has come to Pakistan, Ahsan Iqbal, who narrowly escaped assassination bid and injured in Narowal gun attack, was addressing passing out parade of second batch of Counter-Terrorism Force here at Islamabad Police Line Headquarters. On the occasion, Rescue-15 modern squad was also launched.
The Minister attended this event as chief guest after the unfortunate incident of firing two weeks ago and thanked Almighty Allah for being alive and also his friends, well wishers and people of Pakistan for remembering him in their prayers.
The second batch consists of 291 personnel including 230 males, 23 females and 38 drivers. The first batch consisting 380 personnel of CTF also became operational in Capital few months back.
“We made the National Action Plan (NAP) and launched a full-fledged operation against terrorists in the country, which will continue till complete annihilation of terrorists and
extremists,” he said.
Ahsan Iqbal lauded the role of nation, Pakistan’s armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in war against terrorism and said, besides, sacrificing thousands of precious lives, the country’s economy also suffered big loss.
“Peace is very much important for development as is oxygen necessary for human life,” he said and added that the societies having instability and insurgency could not meet the pace of progress.”
For many years the country had become weaker economically and plunged into darkness. Besides, investors were not investing in the country. It happened due to the disturbed security situation and weaker economic policies, said the minister.
He said police were not only doing their own duty but also playing a vital role in the country’s development. It were the police, who performed their duty day and night so that citizens could sleep without any fear, he added.
Congratulating the CTF on completion of its training, Ahsan Iqbal said he was pleased that women had also become part of the force. Women, he added, were also playing an active role in fighting against terrorism.
The Minister said the CTF would increase the specializations, skills and professionalism of the police. The police acted as a frontline force against terrorism, he added.
He said an anti-riot police force had also been formed to ensure law and order in Islamabad for which allocation has been made in the next year budget.
Ahsan Iqbal was of the view that it was an age of innovation where changes took place frequently, and “we need to develop ourselves as per requirements of the world because nature of today’s challenges is global and challenges have no boundaries.”
Earlier, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Sultan Azam Temuri said an action plan was being prepared to improve performance of the police within minimum time.
He said of the total 970 personnel of CTF, first batch of 380 had already passed out and today another batch of 291 was passing out.
The IGP said 34 vehicles had been arranged for the CTF and its building is almost completed. Four smart cars of Rescue-15 have also been arranged and would be linked with safe city project.
Ahsan Iqbal witnessed the parade as well as live demonstration.
The CTF’s logo was also awarded to the minister.
Suicide attack on FC vehicle leaves 1 dead, 14 injured: DPO
NOWSHERA, May 17 (APP)::One person was killed and 14 others injured when a suicide bomber, riding a bike, rammed his two-wheeler into the Frontier Constabulary (FC) vehicle here on Mall Road near Kachehri Chowk Thursday afternoon, District Police Officer (DPO) Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari said.
According to the initial reports, the suicide bomber blew himself up near a security forces’ vehicle. Rescue teams and security officials rushed to the explosion site. The injured have been shifted to Combined Military Hospital, Nowshera. 12 of the 14 injured have been shifted to CMH Nowshera and two to DHQ Hospital. The condition of four injured was stated to be critical.
The DPO told Reporters that the FC vehicle was on the way to Peshawar from Rawalpindi with six personnel including an officer when it was targeted on Mall Road Nowshera. The body of the suicide bomber was taken into custody by the police.
The DPO said around five kg explosive was used in the blast.
The ISPR told APP that only four soldiers were injured in the blast and there was no casualty. It was a suicide attack, he confirmed.
The Nowshera Mall Road has been cordoned off by the police and security forces and a search operation is
conducted in the area.
The Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak have strongly condemned the suicide attack on FC vehicle during the holy month of Ramadan and said it was an attempt to create unrest in the country.
They said such elements are not supposed to be called human. They also prayed for early recovery of the
injured.
DHA club wins summer camp basketball title
LAHORE, May 17 (APP):DHA Club defeated Don Bosco by 58-48 to win the Don Bosco Summer Camp Basketball Tournament here on Thursday at Don Bosco School courts.
The final saw Don Bosco’s dominance in the first two quarters as they were enjoying full support of the crowd. DHA Club made a strong comeback and gathered points one after another to have dominance in the match, which remained intact till the end and helped DHA Club emerged as winners of the title match. Adnan and Ahmed Bhatti were the heroes from the winning side as they scored 16 and 15 points respectively. From Don Bosco, Adeel Raza and Malik Shan gathered 17 and 10 points respectively but their heroics couldn’t save their team from facing final defeat at the hands of DHA Club. Mohammad Naveed, Khurram Khan and Yasir Ali supervised the final as umpires while Shahbaz Khan was scorer.
Mehmood Butt, a known Basketball organizer was the chief guest on the occasion and gave away the prizes. Also present were Secretary, Pakistan Basketball Federation, Khalid Bashir, Associate Secretary,
Modood Jaffery and notable associated with the game.
In the end, Secretary PBBF,Khalid Bashir announced to hold Ramzan Basketball Tournament to be played from 10th to 15th Ramzan.
NA offers Fateha for Col. Sohail Abid, innocent Palestinians
ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP):The National Assembly on Thursday offered ‘Fateha’ for the departed souls
of Colonel Sohail Abid embracing martyrdom in Balochistan and for innocent Palestinians
who were martyred in Gaza by Israeli troops.
On the request of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Molana Ameer Zaman led
the Fateha.
He prayed for the rest of departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss with equanimity.
Sardar Ayaz also congratulated all the members on the advent of sacred month of Ramazan and prayed Almighty to grant long life with good health to them.
Two-thirds of world population will live in cities by 2050: UN report
UNITED NATIONS, May 17 (APP):Two out of every three people in the world will be living in cities or other urban areas by 2050, when 2.5 billion more people will be added to the current city population through a combination of demographic shifts and overall population growth, according to a new a United Nations report.
The report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) said much of this increase is expected to be concentrated in just a few countries.
“Together, India, China and Nigeria will account for 35 per cent of the projected growth of the
world’s urban population between 2018 and 2050″. It is projected that India will have added 416 million urban dwellers, China 255 million and Nigeria 189 million,” said DESA, announcing the findings on Wednesday.
The report also estimates that by 2030, the world could have 43 so-called megacities (up from 31 today, according to reports)“ those with more than 10 million inhabitants“ most of them in developing countries.
By 2028, the Indian capital, New Delhi, is projected to become the most populous city on the planet..
Currently, Tokyo is the world’s largest, with an agglomeration of 37 million inhabitants, followed by New Delhi (29 million), and Shanghai (26 million). Mexico City and Sao Paulo, come next; each with around 22 million inhabitants.
These swelling populations will place extra demands on both resources and services in urban areas, notes the report.”Many countries will face challenges in meeting the needs of their growing urban populations, including for housing, transportation, energy systems and other infrastructure; as well as for employment and basic services such as education and health care,” said DESA, urging governments adopt better integrated policies to improve the lives of both urban and rural dwellers.
At the same time, linkages between urban and rural areas will need to be strengthened, building on their existing economic, social and environmental ties, the report concludes.
PM reiterates resolve to eliminate terrorism
ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Thursday reiterated Pakistan’s resolve not to rest till last trace of terrorist elements were wiped out from the country .
In a statement from the PM House Abbasi expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of Colonel Sohail Abid who lost his life while fighting terrorists in Balochistan.
The Prime Minister prayed for the departed soul and early recovery of the injured.
“Our soldiers have paid the price of freedom with blood and there is no higher sacrifice than it. “We as a nation are united against the enemy,” the Prime Minister said .
Pakistan expresses solidarity with Palestinians as OIC envoys discuss Israel’s latest atrocity
UNITED NATIONS, May 17 (APP):Reaffirming its ‘whole-hearted’ support to Palestine, Pakistan has deplored the failure of the UN Security Council to condemn the deadly violence unleashed by Israeli troops in Gaza against the Palestinians protesting the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem. “While this grave tragedy has unfolded on our television screens and in front of the international community, the Security Council has been unable to issue even a statement,” Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told an emergency meeting of OIC Ambassadors on Wednesday.
“One country (the United States) has again blocked the unanimous call of the 14 other members of the Council, to issue a press statement merely calling for an independent investigation into the incidents,” she said.
Monday was the bloodiest day in Gaza since the 2014 Israeli invasion of the Strip. Sixty people were killed and 2,700 were wounded.
Wednesday’s meeting of OIC Ambassadors was convened by Bangladesh at the request of Turkey to discuss the grave situation in Palestine. Bangladesh is the chair of the OIC Council of Ministers.
The Pakistani envoy described a call by some countries for both sides to exercise “restraint” a “disingenuous attempt” to equate the occupying power with the Palestinians. “They cannot be equated, for one is an occupying power, with arms and ammunition and the other, an occupied people, with only an unyielding spirit to secure their right to self-determination.”
“The US action to shift its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is not only egregious violation of international law and contravention of the UN Charter’s prohibition of the forcible acquisition of territory, they also gravely undermine any prospect of a two-state solution in the Middle East,” Ambassador Lodhi
added.
With the US having lost its standing as an honest broker in the Middle East, she said Pakistan endorsed calls for an expansion of the Middle East Quartet — the UN, EU, Russia and US — including greater representation from the region.
The Pakistani envoy also backed President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for an international peace conference this year to reinvigorate the stalled Middle East peace process.
As member of the UN Human Rights Council, she said Pakistan fully supports the request for a special session of the HRC, on Friday.
She told the meeting that May 18 will be observed in Pakistan as ˜Palestinian Solidarity Day” to demonstrate the country’s “abiding solidarity” with the Palestinian brethren.
Lodhi also thanked Turkey for convening an extraordinary Summit to discuss the situation in Palestine, saying Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will be attending.
The Pakistani envoy also endorse President Abbas’ call for an international peace conference this year, to reinvigorate the peace process.
As member of the UN Human Rights Council, she said Pakistan fully endorses the request for a special session of the HRC on Friday.
Ambassador Lodhi expressed “deepest condolences” to Palestinian brothers and sisters on Monday’s atrocity committed by Israel. “The Palestinians, including several children who lost their lives, have joined the ranks of thousands of martyrs whose only crime was to exercise their right to peaceful protest.”
In conclusion, she declared, “We are also ready to extend our wholehearted support to any initiative taken by the OIC to alleviate the plight of our Palestinian brethren.”
Trump ended US neutrality by moving embassy to Jerusalem: NYT Editorial Board
WASHINGTON, May 17(APP):By moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, President Trump has swept aside 70 years of American neutrality, The New York Times Editorial Board said in an opinion article, a move that was greeted with massive protests that claimed lives of at least 60 Palestinians.
The day the US embassy was inaugurated in Jerusalem turned out to be one of the bloodiest days for the Palestinians, when Israeli troops used live ammunition on protesting people, killing at least 60.
According to the NYT Editorial Board, for generations the Americans acted as honest broker, withheld its decision to accept claims by either side which see Jerusalem as their capital, pending a treaty that would resolve the issue with agreement from both sides.
“But on Monday President Trump delivered the embassy as a gift without concession or condition to the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and as a blow to the Palestinians,” the Editorial Board said, referring to the day the Embassy was opened in Jerusalem.
“The world did not witness a new dawn of peace and security for two peoples who have dreamed of both for so long. Instead, it watched as Israeli soldiers shot and killed scores of Palestinian protesters, and wounded thousands more, along Israel’s boundary with the Gaza Strip.”
The NYT Editorial Board observed that unilateral action rather than negotiation and compromise had been the policy of the right-wing Israeli governments, which have steadily expanded Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the area that Palestinians expected to be part of a Palestinian state.
“Mr. Trump has repeatedly promised a grand peace plan without delivering, and he has now lent America’s weight to this maximalist Israeli strategy,” the Board noted in its observation.
President Trump’s decision has swept away 70 years of neutrality of the United States which has prided itself on mediating between Israel and the Palestinians, the NTY Editorial said noting that successive administrations urged a peace formula in which the two parties would negotiate core issues between them.
“It said that the possibility of peace has continued to recede, ‘and Israel’s democratic character has continued to erode under the pressure of a long-term occupation of millions of Palestinians who lack sovereignty of their own”.
“The ceremony on Monday marking the embassy opening could hardly have been more dismissive of Palestinians. It was timed to make the American bias clear, coming on the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence in 1948 and the day before Palestinians observe Nakba, or Catastrophe, the expulsion of their ancestors from the newly formed Jewish state.”
“The fact that Robert Jeffers, a pastor who has denigrated Jews, Mormons and Muslims, and the Rev. John Hagee, a megachurch televangelist who has claimed Hitler was descended from ‘half-breed Jews’ and was part of God’s plan to return Jews to Israel, had prominent roles in the ceremony should embarrass all who participated,” it added.
“Israel has every right to defend its borders, including the boundary with Gaza. But officials are unconvincing when they argue that only live ammunition ‘rather than tear gas, water cannons and other nonlethal measures’ can protect Israel from being overrun,” it concluded.
Ramadan teaches lesson of kindness: Mufti Muneeb
ISLAMABAD, May 17 (APP):Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman Thursday said fasting is not the mere act of not eating and drinking as it is the spiritual effort of Muslims to elevate their souls and reach Allah’s satisfaction.
While talking to PTV he said the lunar month of Ramadan has been started and it is the blessed month in which the Holy Quraan was revealed as to the characteristics of a pious person (Muttaqi) the Qur’an says that beside believing in Oneness of Allah and performing prayer, the person must fulfill his/her social obligations by spending money and honoring his/her trust.
He informed that,”Fasting inculcates in us patience, unselfishness, and gratitude. When we fast we feel the pains of deprivation and hunger, and learn how to endure it patiently.”
He further said this month teaches the lesson of kindness towards others and the Rizq (daily bread) of Muslims is increased. The first ten days of Ramadan are of mercy, second ten days are of forgiveness and the last ten days are of being freed from Hell. The month of Ramadan is a month in which the Mercy and Blessings of Allah Ta’ala descend upon us continuously.
He stressed,”Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month that the believers await with eagerness. This is the month for renewing our commitment and re-establishing our relationship with our Creator”.
It offers every Muslim an opportunity to strengthen his Iman, purify his heart and soul, and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him. Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, Said, “Anyone who fasts during this month with purity of belief and with expectation of a good reward (from his Creator), will have his previous sins forgiven.” “Anyone who stands in prayers during its nights with purity of belief and expectation of a reward, will have his previous sins forgiven.” The rewards for good deeds are multiplied manifold during Ramadan, he added.
To a quesion, he said many individuals, particularly old-aged and suffering through health issues, are unable to fast during Ramadan. As a result, they pay Roza Fidya to the less privileged humans.