Category: Politics

News stories of Politics, for the topics that matter the most to young professionals and college students, political news reported with a different angle.

  • 80 per cent of Gaza burns victims are children: What do we know about day 15

    80 per cent of Gaza burns victims are children: What do we know about day 15

    13 Palestinians killed in occupied West Bank

    At least 13 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank.

    The Israeli raid led to clashes in the Nur Shams refugee camp.

    Among the killed Palestinians are seven children whereas one Israeli officer also died.

    Israel-Lebanon border

    Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah alongside Palestinian armed groups are still at odds as cross-border attacks continue.

    Al Jazeera reports that the attacks are limited to areas only a few kilometres on each side of the border, adding that Hezbollah is trying to stop Israeli potential operation into Gaza.

    ‘Fuel will not enter Gaza’: Israeli army spokesperson

    Daniel Hagari says the 20 trucks carrying aid into Gaza from Egypt will go to the southern part of the besieged enclave.

    But he stated that “fuel will not enter Gaza”.

    At a news conference after the opening of the Rafah crossing earlier, Hagari told reporters that only food, water and medical aid will be allowed to enter the enclave.

    Israeli air raids kill 46 in Gaza

    Air raids through the night have reportedly killed at least 46 people.

    Preparations for ‘next phase of war’

    Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has disclosed that the war will be carried through three phases and that preparations are underway “for the next phase of the war” which is said to be a ground operation.

    The first phase is under way which, as he explained, aims to destroy the military infrastructure of Hamas military. The second phase will be “lower intensity” operations to “destroy pockets of resistance”.

    “The third phase will require the removal of Israel’s responsibility for life in the Gaza strip, and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel,” as highlighted in his statement.

    800 EU officials condemn chief’s support of Israeli attacks on Gaza

    In the light of the recent incessant Israeli attacks on Gaza, more than 800 EU officials have written to European Union’s chief, Ursula von der Leyen, condemning her “uncontrolled” support of Israel.

    Al Jazeera has reported seing the letter whereas the signatories of the letter say they “hardly recognise the values of the EU” and that there has been a “seeming indifference demonstrated over the past few days by our institution towards the ongoing massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip, in disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law”.

    The signatories are also upset by the Commission’s “double standards” as on one hand, the Russian blockade of Ukraine is deemed as an act of terror, while Israel’s blockade of Gaza is “completely ignored”.

    “If Israel does not stop immediately, the whole Gaza Strip and its inhabitants will be erased from the planet,” the letter read.

    “We urge you [von der Leyen] to call, together with the leaders of the whole Union, for a ceasefire and for the protection of civilian life. This is at the core of the EU existence,” they said, warning “the EU risks losing all credibility”.

    The letter brings to light the conflict within the EU on the Israel-Gaza war.

    The letter also read that the European Commission’s “recent unfortunate actions or positions seem to give a free hand to the acceleration and the legitimacy of a war crime in the Gaza Strip”.

    “We would have been proud if the European Union … had called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and indiscriminate violence against civilians,” the letter read.

    UN update on casualties in Gaza, West Bank
    Death toll in the Palestinian enclave has risen up to 4,137 which includes 70 percent of children and women.

    Additionally, more than 1,000 people are said to be missing and are presumably under the buildings attacked by Israel.

    1.4 million people are internally displaced in Gaza while at least 30 percent of residency has been destroyed or damaged in Gaza.

    80 per cent of Gaza burns victims are children

    Ghassan Abu Sitta has said that medical workers no longer have dressings for burns victims.

    “We have more than 70 wounded with burns covering more than 40 per cent of their body surface. 80 per cent are children,” Abu Sitta said on X (formerly Twitter).

    10,000 Palestinians imprisoned in two weeks

    There were already about 5,200 Palestinians in Israeli prisons before the attacks of October 7. Following the incident, 4,000 Gazan labourers in Israel have reportedly been arrested while other 1,070 have been taken in in army raids in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

    Cairo Peace Summit to address war on Gaza

    More than a dozen countries participated in a conference in Cairo, Egypt to discuss ways to “de-escalate” the Israel-Palestine escalation while there is also a fear of the conflict rippling throughout the Middle East.

    The Cairo Summit for Peace was attended by Jordan, France, Germany, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Qatar, South Africa and other countries alongside the United Nations and European Union.

    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi urged all the leaders to collectively carve out a way to end the “humanitarian catastrophe” in the Gaza Strip and establish peace between the two sides.

    He also asserted the need to deliver aid to Gaza and call for a ceasefire as well as attainment of the two-state solution.

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also attended the summit and appealed for the opening of the humanitarian corridors.

    “We will remain on our land.”, he added, saying that Palestinians will not leave.

  • Sheikh Rashid is back after a hard ‘40-day chilla’

    Sheikh Rashid is back after a hard ‘40-day chilla’

    President Awami Muslim League and PTI’s ally Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Friday made a comeback on TV in an interview with anchorperson Muneeb Farooq. 

    When asked about his long absence and reported arrest, Sheikh Rashid said that he had gone for a “40-day chilla” just like a tableegi mission where he was studying Quran. Sheikh said it was hard but he is thankful to the Almighty that he got this opportunity. Sheikh Rashid said he did not even get a chance to inform his family about it. “No one harmed me, everyone cooperated with me on this chilla,” added Rashid.

    Sheikh Rashid talked about his relations with the armed forces of Pakistan. He attributed his political career to General Akhtar Abdur Rehman. “I will always be proud to call myself a spokesperson of the army.” He said he had even advised Imran Khan to work in close coordination with them. 

    Rashid recalled that when the MQM talked to him during the no-confidence motion, he realised then that “PTI government is over”. However, he did maintain that he was part of the cabinet and was one of the signatories of the National Security Council (NSC) on the cipher. 

    Answering a question regarding Imran’s criticism of the army, Rashid said that he personally believes that nobody should criticise army officers and military institutions like that. Rashid said that he had condemned the May 9 violence but “it was not highlighted much”.

    Rashid reiterated that institutions are imperative for Pakistan and the biggest mistake of the PTI government was to criticise the army and hampering the appointment of Army Chief General Asim Munir. He has deduced from his experience that politicians should not meddle in the affairs of the army — their postings and transfers. Sheikh said that Imran Khan is a “stubborn” politician.

    Sheikh Rashid appeared on TV a day after the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court ordered the police to recover him by October 26. He was allegedly picked up from his residence in Rawalpindi on September 17 according to his lawyer.

  • Scotland willing to take in Palestinian refugees

    Scotland willing to take in Palestinian refugees

    Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf posted a video message on X (formerly Twitter), saying that the U.K. is willing to take Gaza refugees in, following Israel’s bombardment of Palestine.

    “So, many of them don’t want to leave and neither they should have to leave but for the million that have been displaced just in this current conflict, for those that want to leave, there should be a worldwide refugee scheme,

    “Because of the numbers, the world should be involved.”

    Yousaf also urged other countries to open their borders to refugees from Gaza.

    “Let’s say that Scotland will be a place of sanctuary for them as we have shown that kindness and compassion for others. Let us show it once again and this time for the people of Gaza,” Yousaf said, adding that Scotland is willing to lead the way for the rest of the U.K.

    “And Scotland is willing to be the first country in the U.K. to take those refugees,” he said.

    In another video, the First Minister stated that Scotland’s hospitals will care for the Gazans injured in the escalation and requested the U.K. government to “begin work on the creation of a refugee resettlement scheme for those in Gaza who want to, and of course are able to, leave.”

  • Members of UK Labour Party resign in support of Palestine

    Members of UK Labour Party resign in support of Palestine

    Several members of the Labour Party have resigned since the Israel bombing of escalation on October 7.

    The Labour Party is currently in the opposition in the UK whose leader, Keir Starmer, recently stated that Israel has the “right” to cut power and water supplies to Gaza. Similar comments were issued by prominent members including shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry and shadow defence minister John Healey.

    This was followed by a resignation from Oxford City councillor Shaista Aziz. As a former international aid worker, she has worked in the occupied West Bank, Israel, and refugee camps in Gaza.

    Middle East Eye spoke to her and she said, “The Labour Party leader’s stance on not being able to condemn collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza was the final red line for me,”.

    In an interview, Strarmer was asked about the seige, blockade, and the killing by Israel to which he replied that while all action must be taken within the international law, “I don’t want to step away from the core principles that Israel has the right to defend herself.”

    Among other Labour councillors who have resigned are Amar Latif, Mairéad Healy and Jessie Hoskin.

    “As a working GP, I am deeply distressed by the loss of all innocent lives in both Palestine and Israel. However, it cannot be right that there is collective punishment in direct contravention of international law, and it is incumbent on all leaders at a local, national and international level to speak out against this,” said Latif.

    Similarly, Hopkins stated, “I was elected because I believe in human dignity for everyone without exception. The Labour Party no longert reflects those views,”

    While Healy said the Labour leadership was “encouraging collective punishment towards the Palestinian people by condoning the indiscriminate withholding of water and energy supplies in Gaza,” which she believes is illegal under international law.

  • Here’s all you need to know about what PM Kakar has been doing in China

    Here’s all you need to know about what PM Kakar has been doing in China

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar is currently on a four day long visit to China, to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. This is the first Forum in four years as the last one was held in 2019. This time around there were delegations from 130 countries and ten heads of states mostly from the global south. The PM is there on the invitation of President Xi Jinping to celebrate ten years of CPEC, the flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative.

    The visit has been packed with attending the opening ceremony, addressing the high-level forum and conducting important meetings with head of states and entrepreneurs and presiding over the round tables about CPEC.

    The activities started off with the two-day forum where Anwaar ul Haq Kakar addressed the opening ceremony of BRF at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. He was welcomed by President Xi and the first lady. Both the countries agreed on growing CPEC as a project ensuring growth, employment and sustainability. Xi talked at length about the Chinese rejection of “economic coercion” and “bloc confrontation”.

    Caretaker PM addressed the high-level forum titled ‘Connectivity in an Open Global Economy’ where he vowed to share responsibility and embrace the vision of working together because he believes by this “we can create a brighter, peaceful, and sustainable future for ourselves and for our generations,” He attended a roundtable on the decade-long progress of CPEC. Different MoUs were signed between the leadership of China and Pakistan during the PM’s meeting with his counterpart Li Qiang.

    The United Energy Group of China and Pakistan Refinery Ltd signed an MoU for a $1.5 billion investment to boost the refinery’s production capacity.

    The rail project, whose cost has been revised downwards from $9bn to $6.7bn, will span 1,733 kilometres, connecting Peshawar to Karachi. Besides, the number of trains travelling to and from both cities could potentially expand to 100.

    Both the projects will help enhance the capacity of the respective department and create thousands of job opportunities.

    Apart from the meetings with Chinese businesses and different ministers, Kakar also met Russian President Viladimir Putin, President of Kenya Dr. William Ruto and the President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremsinghe.
    With Russia, he discussed the areas of convergence like countering terrorism in Afghanistan, trade of energy, petroleum and promotion of bilateral ties.
    PM Kakar also talked about expediting the joint investigation report on the Arshad Sharif murder case in Kenya with William Ruto.
    In his meeting with Srilankan President he discussed about the mutual issues regarding economy and the crisis in Gaza calling for an immediate ceasefire.
    He represented Pakistan at the final Gala Dinner having all the attendees of the forum after his meeting with the President of China. He stated categorically of “Pakistan’s blind trust on China” and the pride Pakistan takes in “Chinese progress”.
    In the last leg of the visit, PM is now on his way to Ürümqi, Uyghur region of China to address the students at Xinjiag University after offering Jumma prayers in the Grand Mosque of Xinjiag.

  • ‘Election and democracy halted for one person’s return’: Bilawal takes swipe at Nawaz

    ‘Election and democracy halted for one person’s return’: Bilawal takes swipe at Nawaz

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made thinly veiled references to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif while addressing a public gathering held in connection with the 16th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy, outside Bilawal House in Karachi.

    He said on Wednesday that the country’s constitution, election, and democracy were halted for “one person’s return.”

    Despite being partners in the last government and demanding the former three-time prime minister’s return, the PPP has kept raising concerns that Nawaz might get “special relief”.

    Nawaz will return to Pakistan on Saturday (October 21) and has been granted protective bail till October 24 in Avenfield and Al-Azizia case. Arrest warrants in Toshakhana case have also been suspended till October 24.

    “Our previous allies will have to acknowledge that delaying elections will not ‘give respect to vote’, rather disrespect it,” Bilawal said during a public rally in Karachi, hitting out at the PML-N, whose slogan has been “vote ko izzt do (give respect to the sanctity of vote)”.

    The PPP chairman also said that he wants to end the politics of divide and abuse, adding that if politicos keep fighting amongst themselves, the country will not progress.

    “We can swallow the ‘bitter pill’ [of holding elections] in more than 90 days only when the election commission announces a date for the polls,” he said.

    He called for holding elections, saying only people had the right to choose their leaders and make decisions for their future.

    “We have to leave politics of abuses and divide behind. We need new leadership… a leadership that is not stuck in the past but thinks about the future. We don’t want 90s’ Pakistan or 2017’s Pakistan. We want today’s Pakistan… Pakistan of 2023… a modern Pakistan,” he added.

    “The tenure of [coalition] government of the last 16 months taught us that Pakistan cannot be run from London,” he said.

    In view of the skyrocketing inflation and depleting economic reserves, the PPP leader demanded that relief should be given to the common man instead of the elite.

  • Nawaz’s legal team files protective bail to prevent him from being arrested

    Nawaz’s legal team files protective bail to prevent him from being arrested

    The legal team of frmer prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif has filed a bail petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) to prevent officials from arresting him when he reaches Pakistan on October 21.

    Sharif was declared a proclaimed offender by IHC in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases due to non-compliance. After that, he went to London in November 2019 for medical treatment with the permission of the court.

    An accountability court sentenced Nawaz Sharif for 10 years in 2018 in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references.

    His appeal against the sentence was rejected by an IHC bench comprising of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Mohsin Akhtar Kayani for non-compliance.

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended the sentence of the three-time former prime minister in Al-Azizia reference in 2019 because of his medical condition.

    Nawaz Sharif is also a fugitive in the Toshakhana case.

    His legal team has filed three protective bail applications, requesting that the IHC direct authorities not to arrest Sharif when he returns to country on October 21.

    After that, the court sent out a notice on Nawaz’s request for protective bail and requested an answer from the NAB by tomorrow.

  • Court nullifies lifetime imprisonment of  PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi in ephedrine quota case

    Court nullifies lifetime imprisonment of  PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi in ephedrine quota case

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has discharged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi in the ephedrine quota case, as well as nullifying his lifetime sentence.

    A two-member bench announced the decision on the PML-N leader’s appeal against the sentence.

    In the last hearing, Justice Aalia Neelum and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural had reserved the judgement after hearing arguments from lawyers.

    Hanif Abbasi was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court on July 21, just a few days before 2018 general elections for control of narcotics substance (CNS).

    In 2012, he and his co-accused were charged by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for misusing 500kg of ephedrine, citing Sections 9-C, 14, and 15 of the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Act. He was contesting election in NA-60, Rawalpindi against main rival, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad of Awami Muslim League. However, he was disqualified after being found guilty in the case.

    The PML-N leader said in an appeal that the sentence was politically motivated, and there were eight suspects in case, but only the appellant got convicted. It was also mentioned in the appeal that the appellant didn’t misuse the ephedrine quota but the trial court ignored this fact and announced its decision.   

    “I was kept away from two elections (due to the case) and my daughter was also kicked out of her job,” Abbasi claimed. He also shared that his younger brother was kept in illegal confinement for 14 days.

    “If Sheikh Rashid contests the election, then the competition will be in the polls,” said Abbasi.

  • Israel tries deflecting blame for hospital attack; evidence proves otherwise

    Israel tries deflecting blame for hospital attack; evidence proves otherwise

    On Tuesday night, Israel targeted Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza in an air-strike that killed more than 1000 civilians.

    Media reports state that thousands of Palestinians were present in the hospital for treatment and refuge when it was attacked.

    As the world recoiled in horror, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza.”

    However, fact-checking organisations and journalists are proving otherwise. Evidence show that the former digital media officer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shared a post announcing that “the Israeli Air Force has hit a hospital in Gaza”.

    “It was determined that Naftali, who deleted the post after a short time, tried to manipulate the world public opinion by sharing posts claiming that “the missile that hit the hospital was fired from Gaza””

    Additonally, the official Israeli state account posted a video blaming Hamas for the bombing of the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital but later removed it on realizing it was filmed after the attack and had a time stamp proving so.

    The Palestinian Ambassador to the UN also rebutted the claims being made by Israel.

    Busting false information

    Communications Directorate’s Center for Combating Disinformation, a Turkish fact checking body, said on X:

    “The claim that ‘(Palestinian group) Hamas, not Israel, carried out the attack’ on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza’s al-Zaytoun neighbourhood is false,”

    After analysis of widely circulated media posts it was deducted that the “images shared by Israeli propaganda accounts claiming that a ‘Hamas missile hit the hospital’ were from 2022,” not 2023.

    The Anadolu Agency quotes the centre in which it has been pointed out “the Israeli army demanded the immediate evacuation of hospitals, alleging that they were being used as shelters,” reinforcing that Israeli forces were “deliberately” carrying out the deadly attacks.

    “The claim shared on some social media accounts that ‘Gaza’s official account admits that Hamas carried out the hospital attack’ is not true,

    “’Gaza Report’ account cited as the basis for the claim is not the official account of Gaza or any Palestinian institution,”

    “It has been determined that the account was used for manipulation purposes.”

  • Local bodies election happening after 18 years in Gilgit-Baltistan  

    Local bodies election happening after 18 years in Gilgit-Baltistan  

    Long awaited local bodies elections are going to take place in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) for the first time in 18 years. Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming polls.

    GB Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan has said that local body elections will be held in the last week of November. The process of delimitation is in progress, but the demarcation process is already complete.

    The Local Bodies Act 2014 took place on July 20, 2023, in GB. Raja Shahbaz Khan also described that, after door-to-door verification, the voter list has been compiled and will soon be made public.

    On the other hand, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also arranged a training workshop for government officials in the region.

    The workshop’s fundamental purpose was to provide training to commissioners, deputy commissioners, and assistant commissioners from Gilgit, Diamer, and Baltistan divisions.

    While addressing the closing ceremony of the workshop, GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan said that local bodies election is the priority of the government.