Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Dubai on Thursday ahead of his much-anticipated return to Pakistan.
After four years of self-exile in London, the former three-time prime minister is scheduled to come back to Pakistan on Saturday, October 21, even though he has been sentenced to prison.
He arrived a few hours late due to an important meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as reported by Geo News. Upon his arrival at the Dubai airport, he received “special protocol”.
Nawaz is scheduled to have meetings with a specific set of individuals while staying in Dubai for two days. He will for Pakistan on Saturday morning, initially heading to Islamabad and then continuing on to Lahore.
Nawaz is set to return to Pakistan on a chartered plane, with approximately 150 individuals, including journalists, politicians, and activists, who have booked tickets to accompany him on his journey.
The three-time premier went to London on November 19, 2019, when he fell critically ill in prison.
Following the allegations of India’s involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a cultural centre in Surray, British Columbia on June 18, Canada expelled top Indian diplomat Pavan Kumar Rai who was allegedly the head of Indian Intelligence in Canada. “We’ve been clear we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference,” the Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated in a press conference on September 18.
In response, India asked a top-tier Canadian diplomat to leave the country in five days, citing “growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities”.
The gravity of the matter became clearer when Canada cancelled a trade mission to India that was scheduled for later this year.
Since then, tensions are at an all time high between the two countries. On October 19, Melanie Joly confirmed to the media that 41 Canadian diplomats have left India after the Modi Government threatened to take back their diplomatic immunity. The two governments rushed into the decision after trying negotiations for two weeks. New Delhi posed the demand of “parity” in the number of diplomats between the two countries. Reportedly India had 21 accredited diplomats in Canada while the latter had 62 in India spread across four consulates in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Bengaluru. The immigration officers that catered applications from Nepal and Bhutan along with India have now been reduced from 27 to 5. However, the withdrawal of immunity is unilateral from India’s side-a violation of International Laws.
Canada, on the other hand, has decided to neither reciprocate nor “retaliate” because this would put the diplomats of other countries at risk. Even though, contrary to India’s claims of accredited diplomats, the registry of foreign representation by India shows the number to be 60 in Canada, Joly refused to comment on that and reiterated that because it is unprecedented, “we decided not to reciprocate”
The Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, a shelter for several Palestinian families in Gaza, was struck by Israeli bombing on Thursday night.
Muslims and Christians, together, were seeking refuge under its roof however, Israel military targeted the Church killing and injuring dozens.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office, 18 Christian Palestinians were among the killed.
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has conveyed its “strongest condemnation” of the attack, saying that “targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli air strikes on residential areas over the past 13 days, constitutes a war crime”.
A Palestinian Christians shout out to world.”where should we go? They bombed my house, my church, no where left to go!”. Two killed and tens injured at the Greek Orthodox Church in central Gaza, where civilians,Muslims and Christians, were taking shelter. pic.twitter.com/WnlFVsqZFF
Israel just bombed the 3rd oldest church in the world murdering a few more scores of Palestinians. For those of you still in denial of a genocide, we have community members with 30-40 relatives wiped out in Gaza. It’s not just Muslims, it’s everything and everyone Palestinian. pic.twitter.com/W0YEAekY7P
At the site of Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, a church was built back in 425 AD but in 1150s or 1160s, the Crusaders named it Saint Porphyrius Church after a bishop renowned for introducing Christianity to Gaza in 395 to 420 AD.
The ancient Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza, a significant historical site dating back to 425 AD, has reportedly been struck by Israeli airstrikes. The church bears the name of Saint Porphyrius, the bishop renowned for introducing Christianity to Gaza during his tenure… pic.twitter.com/5aL14EQnYK
— Jehad Abusalim جهاد أبو سليم (@JehadAbusalim) October 19, 2023
There is a possibility of a big change in the Pakistan cricket team for Friday’s match against Australia in the ICC ODI World Cup.
Sources say that leg-spinner Osama Mir can be added to the Pakistan playing 11 on Saturday instead of vice-captain Shadab Khan who might be dropped. Khan has not been able to chalk up a good performance in the World Cup, leading to criticism from fans.
The match between Pakistan and Australia will be played today at 1:30 p.m.
In the fiscal year 2023–24, Pakistan’s exports, denominated in rupees, experienced a notable 25.54 per cent increase during the first quarter (Q1) compared to the previous year, as per the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Between July and September 2023, exports amounted to Rs2,013,533 million, marking a 25.54 per cent boost from the same period in the previous year, according to PBS’s provisional data.
Looking at year-on-year figures, September 2023’s exports surged by 31.27 per cent, totaling Rs737,295 million, compared to Rs561,643 million in September 2022.
On a month-to-month basis, exports grew by 6.06 per cent, reaching Rs737,295 million in August 2023.
Key export categories in August 2023 included knitwear (Rs103,029 million), readymade garments (Rs74,608 million), bed wear (Rs69,234 million), cotton cloth (Rs51,891 million), oil seeds, nuts, and kernels (Rs46,571 million), cotton yarn (Rs33,815 million), rice and others (Rs32,324 million), towels (Rs25,116 million), rice basmati (Rs19,008 million), and miscellaneous articles, excluding towels and bed wear (Rs16,922 million).
On the other hand, imports during July to September 2023 (FY2023-24) totaled Rs3,560,763 million, showing a decrease of 2.45 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year.
In a year-on-year comparison, imports into Pakistan during September 2023 amounted to Rs1,189,167 million, a 2.52 per cent decline from September 2022.
Month-on-month data indicated a 10.62 per cent increase in imports in September 2023 compared to August 2023.
Key imported commodities in September 2023 included petroleum products (Rs162,087 million), petroleum crude (Rs146,179 million), liquefied natural gas (Rs75,331 million), palm oil (Rs61,388 million), plastic materials (Rs49,628 million), electric machinery and apparatus (Rs44,699 million), iron and steel (Rs44,191 million), mobile phones (Rs37,093 million), iron and steel scrap (Rs27,299 million), and pulses/leguminous vegetables (Rs22,208 million).
This marks a notable improvement from the $950 million deficit observed in July 2023, and a significant reduction compared to the $360 million deficit recorded in September of the previous year.
To provide additional context, in July of this year, Pakistan faced a more substantial current account deficit of $809 million, the highest since October 2022, according to SBP data.
This figure, while lower than the $1.26 billion deficit in July 2022, sharply contrasts with June 2023 when the country enjoyed a surplus of $500 million in its current account.
In terms of trade, central bank data shows that Pakistan’s exports of goods and services dipped to $2.654 billion in July 2023, down from $2.743 billion in July 2022.
Concurrently, total imports for July 2023 amounted to $5.03 billion, a decrease from the $6.07 billion recorded in the same period the previous year. In July of the preceding year, the trade balance in services registered a deficit of $32 million.
Furthermore, there was a noticeable decline in worker remittances, with a year-on-year drop of 19.28 per cent. On a monthly basis, remittances decreased by 7.32 per cent to $2.027 billion.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the nation’s flagship carrier, is grappling with operational challenges caused by a shortage of fuel.
Concurrently, private airlines are capitalising on this situation for their own advantage.
In light of the disruption in PIA’s flight operations, private airlines have swiftly increased their fares. Domestic flights are now priced at a range of Rs40,000 to Rs70,000, with Lahore-Karachi routes reaching as high as Rs49,000 per seat.
Meanwhile, one-way fares from Karachi to Islamabad are commanding prices between Rs55,000 and Rs61,000.
This development follows a week of disruptions in PIA’s domestic flight schedule, resulting in a surge of intending passengers. A spokesperson for a private airline attributed the disparity in demand and supply to this sudden influx of travellers.
Simultaneously, PIA’s financial predicament is deepening, with the cancellation of 35 domestic and foreign flights. The interruption in fuel supply has also caused significant delays for both domestic and international flights across the country. Airline administrations have scrambled to create new departure schedules for these affected flights.
Regarding outstanding dues, the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) revealed that PIA owed Rs3.45 billion for fuel supplied between October 1 and 18, with an additional Rs195 million provided on the mentioned Thursday.
The total liabilities for the current month have reached Rs2.11 billion, compounding PIA’s existing debt of Rs26 billion accumulated over the years. A provisional agreement between PSO and PIA for daily fuel supply in exchange for daily payments has been established.
The current turmoil in PIA’s flight operations is primarily attributable to the suspension of fuel supply by the Pakistan State Oil due to non-payment of dues.
According to Samaa, the suspension has impacted Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, although international flights remain unaffected. PIA’s financial woes have already led to flight cancellations and delays, making the fuel supply suspension a significant setback for the struggling airline.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a notable weekly surge in foreign exchange reserves, with an increase of $67 million, reaching $7.7 billion as of October 13, as per the latest data release on Thursday.
In total, the nation’s readily available foreign reserves amounted to $12.9 billion, with commercial banks holding $5.2 billion in net foreign reserves. The central bank did not provide a specific explanation for this increase.
During the week concluding on October 13, 2023, the SBP’s reserves climbed by $67 million, reaching a total of $7,714.0 million, according to the SBP’s statement. This follows a previous week’s increase of $31 million.
Notably, in July of this year, the central bank’s reserves received a significant boost when Pakistan received an initial disbursement of approximately $1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following the approval of a new $3-billion stand-by arrangement. Additionally, inflows from Saudi Arabia and the UAE contributed to this increase.
Nevertheless, the central bank’s reserves have faced pressure due to ongoing debt repayments, increased import expenditures following the easing of restrictions, and a lack of fresh inflows.
In the 17th match of the ICC ODI World Cup, India won its fourth consecutive victory in the event by defeating Bangladesh by seven wickets.
Bangladesh captain Najamul Hasan Shanto won the toss and decided to bat first in the match played in Pune.
Opening batsmen Tanzid Hasan and Liton Das put on a wonderful opening partnership of 93 runs in 14 overs and 4 balls, but then Hasan returned to the pavilion after scoring 51 runs off 43 balls.
Liton Das was then dismissed for 66, captain Najamul Hasan Shanto for 8, and Mehidi Hasan Miraz for just 3 runs. Tauheed scored 16 runs, Mushfiqur Rahim scored 38 runs and Mahmudullah scored 14 runs, taking Bangladesh to a total of 256 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the scheduled 50 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, and Jadeja took two wickets each for India.
Chasing Bangladesh’s target of 257 runs, Indian batsmen went on the offensive from the start, with openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on an 88-run partnership, but then Rohit was dismissed for 48 runs.
Chasing the target, Gill scored a half-century but then returned to the pavilion after scoring 53 runs while Shreyas Iyer managed to score 19 runs. Virat Kohli once again batted responsibly and scored a magnificent century, the 48th of his ODI career. Kohli played an unbeaten innings of 103 runs against while KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 34 runs.
India easily chased down Bangladesh’s target of 257 runs in the 42nd over for the loss of three wickets and secured their fourth consecutive win in the event. Kohli was awarded the player of the match for his brilliant batting.
British prime minister Rishi Sunak landed in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday morning to meet his counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu and President Herzog.
During his meeting with Herzog, he said that it is vital to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, stating, “Palestinians are victims of what Hamas has done. It’s important that we continue to provide humanitarian access,”
He, nonetheless, stressed on his full support to Israel to “defend” itself, “to bring security back” in the country to its people, and “to ensure the safe return of the hostages that have been taken”.
The United Nations has reported that one million people have fled their homes in Gaza, including about 352,000 people who are currently residing in UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
The conditions of these shelters are described as “increasingly dire“.
121 people killed since yesterday
Al Jazeera spoke to a medical source who reported that 121 had been killed and 540 injured in the Gaza Strip since last night.
Additionally, WAFA has reported that a Palestinian man has been killed by Israeli forces while a child was killed in a refugee camp — both in the occupied West Bank .
The child was reportedly 14-year-old Ahmed Munis Sadouq who was shot in the head.
Others have been injured.
Gaza’s only cancer hospital closed
Al Jazeera reports that Dr Sukeyk, the director of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, has issued an alert that the fuel required to keep essential services running is extremely low and so are the medicines needed during chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients.
There are reportedly more than 9,000 cancer patients in the Gaza Strip with no other hospital to go to.
Doctors using vinegar to treat wound infections
Surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta says he has resorted to using “vinegar from the corner shop to treat pseudomonas bacterial wound infections.”
“It’s come to that,” he said on X.
Vinegar from the corner shop to treat pseuodomonas bacterial wound infections. Its come to that. pic.twitter.com/mEE4haHMyj
The Israeli army has claimed to have targeted and destroyed hundreds of Hamas’s points in Gaza including anti-tank missile launch sites, tunnel shafts intelligence positions, and more.
They have reportedly also killed the fighters involved in October 7 attacks.
Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, confirmed the killings of three of its fighters on Wednesday.
US vetoes UNSC resolution calling for humanitarian halt
US President Biden has announced a pact with Egypt’s el-Sisi which will allow 20 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.
Earlier, on Wednesday, US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that, while condemning Hamas’s attack on Israel, called for a pause in the Israel-Palestine escalation and allow aid into Gaza.
The US was the only opponent in the resolution amongst the 12 members who voted in favour whereas Russia and the UK abstained.
US reasoning was that the Brazil-drafted text did not assert enough on Israel’s right to self-defence.
Israel police boss threatens to send anti-war protesters to Gaza
While people across the globe protest against Israeli atrocities in Gaza, some Israelis too, have taken to streets of Haifa to hold pro-Palestine demonstration.
Israel’s police chief responded by saying that there will be “zero tolerance” for pro-Palestinian protests in Israel and threatened the protesters with sending them to Gaza.
Six people have been reportedly arrested
“Whoever wants to become an Israeli citizen, welcome,” Shabtai said. “Anyone who wants to identify with Gaza is welcome. I will put him on the buses heading there now.”
— NEW: Israeli Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai banned pro-Gaza demonstrations: “Whoever wants to be a citizen of Israel, is welcome. Anyone who wants to identify with Gaza, we will put him on the buses heading there now.”
A left-wing Israeli parliament member, Ofer Cassif has been suspended for 45 daya by the ethics panel of the Israeli parliament whose statements were deemed as anti-Israel.
In an interview, he compared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza to the Nazis’ ‘Final Solution’ against Jews in Europe.
Referring to the Hamas attack he claimed that “Israel wanted this violence”.
Cassif called the suspension “another nail in the coffin of freedom of political expression”.
1> החלטת ועדת האתיקה היא עוד מסמר בארון הקבורה של חופש הביטוי הפוליטי.
בכל אחד מראיונותיי הדגשתי את הגינוי המלא וסלידתי העמוקה ממעשי הטבח הנפשעים של חמאס. אמירותי הפוליטיות נגד הכיבוש והמלחמה אינן אמירות נגד ישראל, שכן שלום וצדק משרתות גם אותה ואת תושביה. pic.twitter.com/ilsKBSbwG3
