Category: Uncategorized

  • Rana Sanaullah thinks MQM-P will help PLM-N get up to four seats in Karachi

    Rana Sanaullah thinks MQM-P will help PLM-N get up to four seats in Karachi

    Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has stated that his party’s alliance with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) could result in three to four candidates securing seats in Karachi in the general elections, The News has reported.

    Sanaullah passed the opinion after a joint announcement by PML-N and MQM-P that they intend to collectively participate in the elections scheduled for February 8.
    Speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada kay Sath’ on Thursday, Sanaullah said that a lot of matters were yet to be decided but the MQM-P will give PML-N space where its candidates could succeed.
    “We will strengthen PML-N in Balochistan,” he said.

    “A hung parliament after the election will add to the country’s problems,” he warned and said the future government must at least have a simple majority.
    He mentioned that the current situation in the country requires a widespread agreement on policies. The upcoming government, regardless of which party leads it, will need to collaborate with all other parties to navigate the country through its challenges.

  • Eight Gaza hospitals bombed in three days: What we know about day 34

    Eight Gaza hospitals bombed in three days: What we know about day 34

    The latest death toll in Gaza from October 7 till now stands at 10,744 Palestinians and 1,405 Israelis.

    More than 1,000 USAID employees call for ceasefire

    More than 1,000 staffers at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a letter pushing for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.

    Officials from USAID’s departments and overseas missions are among the signatories, increasing the number of government employees who have been against US support for Israel’s military offensive in Gaza

    On Wednesday, more than 100 Congressional staffers staged a walkout.

    Eight Gaza hospitals bombed in three days

    Gaza’s government media office has reported that eight hospitals have been bombed by Israeli forces in the past three days and 18 hospitals are out of service since October 7.

    The premises of al-Shifa Hospital and al-Nasr Hospital were shelled by Israeli artillery cannons.

    “The bombing of hospitals is a war crime according to international humanitarian law, and is criminalised by 16 international agreements and UN resolutions that call for the protection of these health facilities,” the statement read.

    War crimes lawsuit filed by Palestinian groups
    Three renowned human rights organisations operating from the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip have filed a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court (ICC) “calling for it to consider apartheid and genocide in its continuing investigation of the situation in Palestine,” Al Jazeera reports.

    The lawsuit by Al Haq, Al Mezan and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights remarked that Israel’s actions in Gaza are war crimes, asking that arrest warrants be issued for Israeli officials, including President Herzog, PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant.

  • Saudi Arabia will not use oil as a weapon to achieve ceasefire in Gaza

    Saudi Arabia will not use oil as a weapon to achieve ceasefire in Gaza

    Right before the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel followed by Israel’s declaration of war against the Palestinians resulting in a death toll of 10,5000+, Saudi Arabia and Israel were steering towards the establishment of ties despite their conflict of views over the Palestine issue.

    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) reportedly asked the US for “security guarantees and access to civilian nuclear technology and advanced weapons in exchange for a deal.”

    Moreover, Saudi diplomats asserted that Israel must concur with the establishment of a Palestinian state as defined in the 2002 Saudi Peace Initiative. And while this particular demand was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jewish ministers in his government, a deal was almost at hand between the two countries.

    However, after October 7, people in support of Palestine across the world, particularly the Muslim world, have demanded from Saudi Arabia to take a stand against the atrocities committed by Israel on Palestinian soil — to use their power to put an end to the attacks.

    However, their concerns seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

    The Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Falih, has remarked that the Kingdom is still willing to consider normalising relations with Israel, depending on a peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue.

    During a discussion session at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum held in Singapore, Falih responded to a question in regard to normalisation of ties between the two countries: “This matter was on the table, and it is still on the table, and it is clear that the recent withdrawal (from the talks) explains why Saudi Arabia is so determined to make a solution to the Palestinian conflict part of broader normalisation in [West Asia].”

    When asked if Saudi Arabia would use economic devices like oil to push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, he reportedly laughed and replied: “This is not on the table today. Saudi Arabia is trying to achieve peace through talks that seek peace.”

    Falih also offered details of the three summits that Saudi Arabia is expected to host in the coming days which will be attended by Arab, African and Islamic countries, an effort to promote a “peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.

    In 1973, Saudi Arabia imposed an oil embargo on the United States and other countries for their support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War against Egypt and Syria.

  • PTI takes U-turn by forming committee for ‘political engagement’ with rivals

    PTI takes U-turn by forming committee for ‘political engagement’ with rivals

    In preparation for the upcoming general elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced the creation of a ‘political engagement committee’ on Wednesday. The committee’s job is to talk to other political parties that PTI will compete against in the upcoming elections.

    The five-member committee includes Senator Ali Zafar, Senator Dr Humayun Mohmand, Ali Muhammad Khan, Ali Asghar Khan and Raoof Hasan, the party notification shared on its official X account stated.

    The development comes days after ecent announcement by the previous ruling party that they plan to participate in the upcoming elections in every constituency, both at the local and national levels.

    The political party led by Imran Khan usually strongly criticizes its rivals, especially the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), accusing them of corruption and stealing from the country.
    However, now PTI is willing to set aside old disagreements to work together to form new political partnerships, so they can be stronger in the upcoming general elections on February 8 next year.
    A day earlier, the PML-N and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) announced that they will “jointly contest” the upcoming polls.

  • HR Lawyer Moniza Kakkar’s account reported by PTA for speaking about Afghans

    HR Lawyer Moniza Kakkar’s account reported by PTA for speaking about Afghans

    Human Rights Lawyer and activist Moniza Kakar has been active on Twitter to show the suffering caused by the government policy of repatriation of Afghans. She has been vocal about the Pashtun community getting deported while being mistaken for Afghans. Her reporting and advocacy of the rights of refugees has gained her the ire of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) which has sent a complaint to Twitter, stating that her account is posting against the policies of the state.

    She posted screenshots of the email she received from Twitter on her account, stating that in the interest of transparency, “we are writing to inform you that Twitter has received a request from PTA regarding your Twitter account, @Moni-Kakar, that claims the following content violated LAW of Pakistan.”

    To this, former Senator and leader of the National Democratic Movement Afrasiab Khattak responded, “HR lawyering is not easy in Pakistan”.

    While talking to The Current, Moniza seemed unfazed, stating, “Aise kam karein ge to zahir si bat hai kuch to masail ka samna karna parta hai [When we do things like these, then of course we have to face some problems].”

    She went on to explain that this time round, Twitter has been requested to block her account altogether. She has also posted the tweet that has been referred to the Twitter team by PTA. It was a video showing a documented Afghan refugee, outside the holding centre in Karachi, whose wife and two-month-old were picked up by the police in a raid.
    Upon asking if she has another account on social media, she mentioned that her LinkedIn profile is active.

  • Imran Khan challenges indictment in Supreme Court

    Imran Khan challenges indictment in Supreme Court

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has challenged his indictment in the cipher case in the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday.
    The former prime minister approached the SC through his counsel Hamid Khan, urging the top court to declare illegal the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision to withhold the indictment.

    He had previously argued his case before the Supreme Court, claiming that he was being unfairly targeted for political reasons. The former prime minister further asserted that government machinery is being used to fabricate false charges against him.

    This is the second petition the PTI chief has filed in the Supreme Court related to the cipher case.

    Last week, Imran Khan submitted a request to the Supreme Court for post-arrest bail in the cipher case.
    Imran and party’s vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi are currently in Adiala jail.

  • President Alvi writes letter conveying PTI concerns to PM Kakar

    President Alvi writes letter conveying PTI concerns to PM Kakar

    President Arif Alvi has penned a letter to Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, expressing the concerns of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding the “erosion of fundamental rights and a level playing field for all political parties” in the upcoming general elections.

    This communication follows the announcement of elections being held on February 8, 2024, stirring political activity across major party lines.

    The details mentioned on X (formerly Twitter) account state, “President Dr. Arif Alvi has conveyed to the Care-taker Prime Minister, Mr. Anwar ul Haq Kakar, the concerns of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the erosion of fundamental rights and level playing field for all political parties.”

    He also forwarded a letter addressed to him by the General Secretary of PTI, Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, to the Prime Minister containing the concerns of the party.

    In his letter, the President stated that it was of utmost importance that the caretaker government under the Prime Minister’s leadership made efforts as a neutral entity to provide a level playing field for all political parties.

    “In this context, it was reassuring to hear your recent statements whereby you stated that it was the caretaker government’s policy that all registered political parties should have equal rights and opportunities to contest the forthcoming elections”, he wrote.

    He said that “there was a resonance in Pakistan that for free, fair and credible elections, all political parties and leaders had right to contest and it was up to people to decide.”

    In his letter, President Alvi said that he was constitutionally “duty-bound, along with the prime minister and all institutions, to protect the rights of the citizens”.

    He said that in his missive, the PTI secretary general had conveyed the party’s concerns and allegations regarding the “erosion of fundamental rights, with particular reference to enforced disappearances, forced conversions of political loyalties, absence of level playing field for major political parties, crackdown on media and mistreatment of female political activists through prolonged illegal detentions”.

    In response to the concerns, PM Kakar has offered assurances that individuals affiliated with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, currently incarcerated in connection with the cipher case and convicted in the Toshakhana case, will be permitted to participate in the upcoming polls.

  • 15,000 civilians flee north Gaza in one day as Israeli forces move in: What we know about day 33

    Since Tuesday, Israel has conducted severe air raids across the Gaza Strip, targeting the vicinity of al-Shifa and Indonesian hospitals, as well as Khan Younis, Nuseirat and Jabalia refugee camps.

    15,000 civilians flee north Gaza

    Civilians from northern Gaza have been evacuating in large numbers as Israeli ground forces move into the area while air and artillery strikes continue.

    As of Tuesday, about 15,000 people fled while on Monday and Sunday 5,000 and 2,000 escaped respectively, reported the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

    Civilians fled in a four-hour period as scheduled daily by the Israeli military. These civilians include children, elderly and people with disabilities.

    Nuseirat refugee camp

    A number of people have been killed as attacks on Nuseirat refugee camp resumed at dawn on Wednesday, Wafa news agency reported.

    Al Jazeera reports that the killed and injured were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital “in the centre of the Gaza Strip as surrounding areas continued to endure another night of intense bombardment”.

    Moreover, people are said to still be trapped under the debris of the attacked residential building.

    Humanitarian convoy targeted

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is “deeply troubled” after five trucks and two ICRC vehicles carrying lifesaving medical supplies came under fire on Tuesday.

    According to the statement, the Israeli attack resulted in the damage of two trucks and a driver was wounded.

    “These are not the conditions under which humanitarian personnel can work,” head of the ICRC delegation in Gaza, William Schomburg, said.

    “We are here to bring urgent assistance to civilians in need. Ensuring that vital assistance can reach medical facilities is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law.”

    All bakeries closed

    All bakeries in the north of Gaza have reportedly been shut down because of “lack of fuel, water and wheat flour” and the damage caused by Israeli attacks, the UN has confirmed.

    It has also been revealed that wheat flour is no longer available in the market in the north and additionally, it has been seven days since aid organisations have failed to deliver any food.

    Whereas only nine bakeries are still “intermittently” open in southern Gaza supplying bread to shelters only when flour and fuel are available.

    Credits Al Jazeera

  • Was General (retd) Faiz Hameed part of ‘Qabza Mafia’?

    Was General (retd) Faiz Hameed part of ‘Qabza Mafia’?

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected a petition against former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, accusing him of land grabbing.

    During a hearing on a human rights case against the former Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa heard the plea.

    Disposing of the petition, the Supreme Court told the petitioner that he had other relevant forums to approach.

    “The Supreme Court has disposed of the petition without discussing the merits of the case,” it added.

    The additional attorney general said that the petitioner can refer to the Ministry of Defence and retired military officers can also be court-martialled, said the top court.

    Justice Athar Minallah emphasized the distinction between the human rights cell and the Supreme Court, stating that the cell lacked legal authority or status.

    The petitioner’s claims centered on the alleged illegal actions of the former spy chief, which were purportedly aimed at gaining control of a housing project.

    The petitioner urged the federal government to take action against Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed and requested the court’s permission to present evidence for his arguments.

    CJP Isa noted the seriousness of the allegations and inquired whether the petitioner would appear in the case personally or through a lawyer.

    The petitioner mentioned that he had recently engaged a lawyer and requested an adjournment to prepare.

    However, CJP Isa remarked that the court will not order an adjournment and instructed the counsel to prepare for the case.

    The Supreme Court ultimately directed the petitioner to seek other appropriate forums for their grievance.

    The court also mentioned the option of approaching the Defense Ministry in the case of allegations against a retired army officer.

    The Petition

    A housing society’s CEO filed a petition with the human rights cell (HRC) of the Supreme Court seeking action against former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed over alleged land grabbing and stealing valuables.

    “On May 12, 2017, my house and office were raided on the orders of General (Rtd) Faiz Hameed. During the raid, valuables and records of our private housing society were stolen,” said the petitioner Moeez Ahmed Khan.

    In his petition, Khan said that the purpose of illegal proceedings against him was to take control of TopCity-1, a housing society located at Srinagar Highway in Islamabad.

    “After the raid, I along with my five other colleagues were kept in confinement. The federal government should take action against Gen (Rtd) Faiz Hameed, his brother Najaf, and others,” said the petitioner.

  • Fawad Chaudhry sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand for 14 days

    Fawad Chaudhry sent to Adiala jail on judicial remand for 14 days

    A session court in Islamabad has sent former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry to Adiala jail on judicial remand in a fraud case on Wednesday.

    After the end of a one-day physical remand, Fawad Chaudhry was brought before the judicial magistrate, Yasir Mehmood.

    The former minister’s council, Qamar Inayat, requested that the court remove his client’s handcuffs, to which the court agreed.

    The lawyer asked for time to hold consultations, upon which the court ordered a 15-minute break.

    After the break, Fawad Chaudhry told the court that it’s the third hearing, but a complainant has not been presented.
    After that, the court announced its decision to send Chaudhry on a 14-day judicial remand to Adiala jail.

    Later, Fawad Chaudhry said in his media talk that Nawaz Sharif should play a role in decreasing political tension.