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At least six people have been killed and 20 injured after a blast in Dera Ismail Khan targeting a police van on Friday.
Law enforcement authorities have confirmed that gunshots were also heard after the blast.
Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Minister, Firdous Jamal Shah, stated that the blast took place in Tank Adda near a police van, confirming that 22 injured people were being shifted to hospital.
There are two police officials and two women among the injured, the minister confirmed.
“Those elements involved in the explosion and terrorism will be brought to justice,” assured the minister.
Two blasts occurred last month in KP and Balochistan on the day of Eid Milad un Nabi — the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The federal government has announced a public holiday on November 9 on account of Iqbal Day.
“November 9, Thursday, will be a public holiday across the country,” said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Friday.
November 9 is celebrated as Iqbal Day nationwide in honour of Dr. Allama Mohammad Iqbal’s birthday, marking his 146th birth anniversary this year.
Allama Iqbal played a vital role in encouraging millions of Muslims across the subcontinent to struggle for their separate homeland, where they could live freely.
The day would begin with mosques holding special prayers for the advancement and well-being of Pakistan.
Dr. Iqbal, born on November 9, 1877, in Sialkot, is widely recognised as the ‘Poet of the East’ in Pakistan and various other regions around the world.
The Pakistan Army is set to start agriculture farming on 41,000 acres of land in South Waziristan’s Zarmalam area.
Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Sardar Hasan Azhar Hayat has said that the army was determined to increase agricultural farming in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as per Geo News.
Lt Gen Hayat said the army has prepared a farming plan on 41,000 acres of land that had been barren for years.
The officer was of the view that there is a vast opportunity for investment in minerals, hydropower, agriculture, and tourism in KP that can help boost the province’s resources.
The three-star officer said the army has worked together with the civil government to bring investment in minerals, agriculture, hydropower, and tourism to the province, which is yielding positive results.
The Pakistan Army’s decision has sparked mixed reactions among locals and experts, with some expressing concerns over the potential implications for the region.
The move, which involves the cultivation of 41,000 acres of land, has raised questions about the long-term impact on the area’s ecosystem and implications for local communities.
Critics argue that the project’s scale could lead to significant land and water resource depletion, impacting the livelihoods of communities dependent on the land.
Additionally, there have been concerns about the army’s increasing involvement in civilian sectors, with some experts cautioning against potential overreach and the need to ensure civilian oversight in such initiatives.
On October 1st this year, The Pakistan Army launched the first agriculture project under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to make barren lands cultivable in South Waziristan.
The pilot project launched in the Zarmalam district of South Waziristan oversaw 1,000 acres of barren land made suitable for cultivation.
The Pakistan Army’s decision has sparked mixed reactions among locals and experts, with some expressing concerns over the potential implications for the region.
The move, which involves the cultivation of 41,000 acres of land, has raised questions about the long-term impact on the area’s ecosystem and the implications for local communities.
Critics argue that the project’s scale could lead to significant land and water resource depletion, impacting the livelihoods of communities dependent on the land.
Additionally, there have been concerns about the army’s increasing involvement in civilian sectors, with some experts cautioning against potential overreach and the need to ensure civilian oversight in such initiatives.
Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, has denied reports that Imran Khan is being slow-poisoned in Adiala jail, Geo reported on Friday.
Shile talking to journalists after visiting Imran Khan in Adiala jail, Dr. Sultan said that the PTI chief is “fit” and not under the influence of any slow poison.
“The former prime minister is hale and hearty,” he said.
On the other hand, Imran Khan denied his involvement in May 9 riots, stating before the joint investigation team (JIT) that he was in jail when the incident occurred, he told the JIT in the presence of his lawyers.
The JIT, led by SSP (Operations) Rawalpindi Faisal Saleem, comprised SP (Potohar) Waqas Khan, DSP (New Town) Malik Allah Yar, an inspector, and a sub-inspector, was present in Adiala jail for 45 minutes and asked tough questions to the former prime minister.
President Arif Alvi announced on Thursday that the general elections will take place in the country on February 8, 2024.
The X (former Twitter) account tweeted, “On today’s order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Sikandar Sultan Raja, along with the Attorney General for Pakistan, Mr. Mansoor Usman Awan, and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan, came to meet President Dr. Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, to discuss the date for holding the forthcoming General Elections in the country. The President heard about the progress the ECP has made in delimitation and for elections.”
On today’s order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Sikandar Sultan Raja, along with the Attorney General for Pakistan, Mr. Mansoor Usman Awan, and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan, came to meet pic.twitter.com/1uXi7v7Y7N
— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) November 2, 2023
The development comes hours after Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa directed the ECP to confer with Alvi on the poll date after the electoral body said that elections would be held on February 11.
“Let the ECP meet with the President of Pakistan today and the date for holding general elections in Pakistan be appointed,” the top judge said in a written order, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com.
He directed AGP Awan to arrange the meeting, provide Alvi with the court order and be available to render assistance. “We expect that the matter of appointing a date for holding general elections shall be settled, and this court will be informed tomorrow (Nov 3),” Justice Isa added.
The order was issued after a three-judge bench comprising the CJP, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and Justice Athar Minallah heard a set of petitions, calling for holding elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures.
Bahrain has severed its economic ties with Israel, recalling its ambassador as the country continues bombarding Gaza.
Bahrain took the step in the wake of Israel’s war on Gaza to show its support for the Palestinian cause and “The legitimate right of Palestinian people.”
The Israeli ambassador had already left Bahrain. This announcement comes on the heels of Jordan’s decision to summon its envoy back home.
Bahrain is the first Arab country to recall its ambassador from among the four that signed the Abraham Accords with Israel back in 2020. This agreement of normalization of ties brought in huge economic deals and the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Since October 7, Colombia, Chile, and Bolivia have cut ties with Israel and Bahrain is the newest addition to the list.
For the first time since October 7, US President Joe Biden has called for a humanitarian “pause” to Israel’s war in Gaza, asserting the eimportance of evacuation of all citizens in Gaza.
“I think we need a pause,” he said on Wednesday when a heckler referred to an immediate ceasefire during a campaign speech.
Biden was asked what he meant by “pause” to which he responded, “Time to get the prisoners out.”
The White House later clarified that the reference was of captives under Hamas.
Almost 200 killed, over 100 missing in Jabalia bombing
According to a report by Gaza’s Government Media Office, more than 1,000 people have been affected by bombing on Jabalia refugee camp which includes 195 killed, 120 missing and at least 777 wounded.
The Israeli military attacked the camp on Tuesday as well as Wednesday promoting the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to deem the attacks “appalling”, while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the “disproportionate attacks” could amount to “war crimes”.
Israel, on the contrary, claimed to have targeted a Hamas commander.
12,000 targets in Gaza attacked
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari has stated that more than 12,000 targets have been attacked since October 7.
מפעל המטרות של צה”ל – מתחילת הלחימה נתקפו מעל ל-12,000 מטרות ברצועת עזה; כ-1200 מטרות טרור הופללו בזמן הלחימה:
— דובר צה״ל דניאל הגרי – Daniel Hagari (@IDFSpokesperson) November 2, 2023
Eleven bakeries destroyed
UN relief agency UNOCHA has reported on the destruction of 11 bakeries in Gaza that were struck by Israel since October 7.
Now, only nine bakeries are reportedly left in Gaza as of Wednesday.
While UNOCHA is supplying the bakeries with flour, they are, nonetheless, struggling to operate due to fuel shortages and additionally, people have to wait in long queues.
Israel-Lebanon conflict continues
Al Jazeera reported that the Israeli army claimed that one of its drones was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanon.
The military responded by attacking the squad and the site from where the rocket was launched.
Egypt to help evacuate ‘about 7,000’ foreign nationals
The Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that Egypt will help evacuate “about 7,000” foreigners and dual nationals from Gaza through Rafah border.
These 7,000 people consist of “more than 60” nationalities.
At least 60 people detained across the occupied West Bank
In an overnight raid by the Israeli forces, at least 60 people have been detained across the occupied West Bank.
The total number of Palestinians detained since October 7 now crosses 1,800.
Additionally, 132 people have been killed in the occupied West Bank while more than 2,100 are wounded.
Israeli agricultural sector struggling
The Ministry of Labor reported that Israel’s agricultural sector is reportedly affected with “significant damage” as thousands of foreign workers have left since October 7.
More than a quarter of about 30,000 foreign workers working in Israel have departed while about 20,000 Palestinian agricultural workers have not been allowed to enter Israel.
The ministry has now given a green signal to 5,000 foreign workers to overcome the shortage in the agriculture sector.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) told the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) that general elections will take place on February 11, 2024. Different political leaders of multiple political parties reacted to the announcement of election date.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira told SAMMA TV that the announcement of the election date has helped to end uncertainty in Pakistan politics.
“The date announcement was necessary so political parties could start the political process. In fact, the PPP has launched the electoral campaign process. Let’s end the uncertainty,” Kaira said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawyer, Barristor Syed Ali Zafar, said in a tweet that, “Supreme Court has said once date of election given it will be written in stone and shall not be changed. After the meeting between President and ECP, the date will be announced hopefully today. This could be a historic and game changing decision by SC. Constitution is supreme.”
On the other hand, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) declared the announcement of election’s date a good development.
PML-N leader Muhammad Zubair said that it’s a good thing that ECP is conducting elections on February 11, 2024.
“There was uncertainty related to the election in the country. It is written very clearly in the constitution regarding the election,” he said.
Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah also said that his party is ready for elections. “Now the ECP has told the apex court that elections will be held on February 11,” he added.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) also stated that conducting elections is a responsibility of ECP. MQM-P’s leader, Amin ul Haq, said that the election date announcement is a good omen and would take the country ahead.
As the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, Pakistan’s journalistic community continues to grapple with an alarming surge in violence and impunity.
Several reports have highlighted the deteriorating situation, shedding light on the challenges faced by media professionals in the South Asian nation.
According to the recently released annual report by the Islamabad-based independent media watchdog, Freedom Network, Pakistan has failed to combat the rising impunity of crimes against journalists, painting a grim picture of the state of press freedom in the country.
The report titled ‘One Step Forward, Two Steps Back,’ outlines the harrowing experiences faced by journalists, including incidents of kidnapping, physical assaults, and unjust legal cases.
Pakistan made history in 2021 by passing two special laws to protect journalists.
The Sindh Assembly passed the “Sindh Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners Act-2021” while the National Assembly passed “Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act-2021” in space of few months.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab have not passed a similar law for their jurisdictions.
According to the Freedom Network’s report at least 37.5 percent of the violations in Pakistan – 93 out of the total 248 cases in the period between August 2021- August 2023 – were recorded in Islamabad alone.
The report further states that during this period there were 11 cases of murders of journalists, plus another 20 unsuccessful assassination attempts.
25 instances of legal cases registered against journalists.
11 cases of abductions, plus another case of an unsuccessful kidnapping attempt.
25 cases of arrests, detentions, or illegal confinements of journalists by the State.
59 cases of physical assaults, 26 of which caused bodily injuries.
05 cases of attacks on the homes of journalists.
30 cases of specific threats of murder or other dire consequences issued to journalists.
59 cases of harassment of journalists.
At least 37.5% of the violations (93 out of a total 248 cases) were recorded in the federal capital Islamabad alone.
Sindh was the second worst with 22.5% of the violations (56 cases) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was a close third at 18.5% (46 cases).
These were followed by Punjab with 17.3% (43 cases), Balochistan with about 2.5% (6 cases), Azad Kashmir (AJK) with 1.2% (3 cases) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) with 0.5% (1 case).
The report also cited specific incidents, such as the tragic death of Channel 5 reporter Sadaf Naeem during the coverage of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s rally in Punjab in October 2022.
The report notes that another Pakistani journalist Ashad Sharif was killed in Kenya on October 23, 2022, and there is still no clarity on his murder.
Pakistan Press Foundation has also documented at least 157 media-related attacks, including 16 instances of arrests, five instances of detention, and 44 cases of assault this year.
Between January and September 2023, PPF has documented at least 157 attacks on the media in connection with their work, including 16 instances of arrests and five instances of detention, 44 cases of assault, two cases of damage to property, four instances of raids, 18 instances of registration of cases against media professionals and two instances of legal action, 26 instances of censorship, 20 instances of harassment of journalists or media practitioners, 13 cases of threats, seven confirmed cases of kidnappings and three unconfirmed cases.
While the country witnessed an improvement in its ranking in the World Press Freedom Index, climbing from 157 in 2021 to 150 in 2023, this progress is overshadowed by the failure to effectively implement the laws designed to protect journalists.
Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden, when responding to a heckler at a Minnesota campaign event Wednesday night, said he thinks there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israeli-Hamas war to get “prisoners” out of Gaza.
The 80-year-old Democrat was delivering remarks to some 200 supporters in the northern US state when a member of the audience shouted out to him.
“As a rabbi, I need you to call for a ceasefire right now,” she said, referring to the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The president responded: “I think we need a pause. A pause means giving time to get the prisoners out.”
Asked about his remarks, the White House later clarified that by “prisoners” the president was referring to hostages held by Hamas.
Biden engaged further with the woman, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the nickname Bibi.
“I’m the guy that convinced Bibi to call for a ceasefire to let the prisoners out. I’m the guy that talked to (Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-)Sisi to convince him to open the door” along Gaza’s border with Egypt to allow freed hostages to leave.
Biden indicated that he was discussing the recent release of two US hostages formerly held by the Palestinian Islamist group.
The White House has previously called for “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid to be delivered into Gaza or to carry out evacuations, but has so far refused to discuss a ceasefire, believing it would exclusively play into the hands of Hamas.
The war between Israel and Hamas entered its 26th day on Wednesday.
In retaliation for the bloody attack by Hamas on October 7, the Israeli army has relentlessly bombed the Gaza Strip, and has launched an increasingly extensive ground operation into the territory.
