Breaking the streak of hot weather in Karachi and Southern Sindh, winds from the West will bring light rainfall in different parts of the city along with the lowering of temperature.
The Meteorological Department has stated that this system of winds will cause a light shower of rain in Tesar Town, Kathor, M-9 motorway, Gulshan e Maymar, and Malir Highway.
However, the central part of the city will not experience any downpours.
The Secretary-General UN Antonio Guterres has said “Everyone must assume their responsibilities. This is the moment of truth. History will judge us all,” as Israel imposed a total blockade of the internet on the Gaza Strip before the heaviest bombardment of the area has ever seen.
He reasserted his call for a humanitarian ceasefire in the war-torn Middle East, the release of hostages, and that aid be delivered at the scale needed.
I repeat my call for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Middle East, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of life-saving supplies at the scale needed.
Everyone must assume their responsibilities.
This is a moment of truth.
History will judge us all. pic.twitter.com/z562jVDKri
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 27, 2023
Earlier on Friday, the UN voted for a humanitarian truce in Gaza and adopted a non-binding resolution where 120 countries voted in favor, 14 were against and 45 abstained. The Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour emphasized, “Enough is enough, the carnage against our people needs to stop and humanitarian assistance should begin to enter the Gaza Strip.”
It is important to note that Gaza has now no communication access and there is a complete blackout in the besieged area while the Israeli Ambassador in the UN has demanded the resignation of the Secretary-General. Gilad Erdan believes, “understanding for the campaign of mass murder of children, women, and the elderly, is not fit to lead the UN.”
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi faced a brief hiccup on Friday when he was initially stopped from flying abroad due to his name being on the no-fly list, as per Shahzad Ali of Samaa.
However, after clarification, he was allowed to proceed with his travel plans to China.
Mr. Abbasi and his wife were at Islamabad Airport to catch a flight to China when immigration authorities informed him that he was on the stop list based on orders of the Sindh court.
Consequently, he was told he couldn’t continue his journey and had to return from the airport lounge.
Eventually, the issue was resolved, and he was permitted to travel.
When reached for comment, Mr. Abbasi denied any disruption and stated that he had already departed for China.
Despite attempts to contact the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration authorities for clarification, no response was received.
Earlier last month, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s son Abdullah Khaqan Abbasi was prevented from leaving the nation at the Islamabad airport by immigration officials.
On a foreign carrier, flight EK-613, Abdullah Khaqan Abbasi was scheduled to travel for Dubai.
Due to the fact that Abdullah’s name was on the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) stop list, the FIA immigration officers stopped him.
Earlier, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s bail had been extended by the Sindh High Court in a case related to an unauthorized appointment at Pakistan State Oil (PSO).
The court also ordered that Abbasi’s name and those of the other defendants be added to the Exit Control List (ECL).
The case involved allegations against Abbasi, Arshad Mirza, Imranul Haque, and Yakoob Babar, with the former petroleum secretary also being present during the court hearing.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the leader of the Awami Muslim League (AML), submitted an application for the withdrawal of his review plea in the Faizabad sit-in case before Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Friday.
In the top court’s miscellaneous application, the former minister argued that he had no affiliation with Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and had not participated in the relevant sit-in.
Multiple pleas were filed challenging the SC verdict — given by the apex court’s two-member bench comprising now-Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Mushir Alam — on the Faizabad sit-in staged by the TLP in 2017 against the then-Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.
Rashid’s withdrawal request follows the federal government’s request to have the review petitions from Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z) President Ijaz Ul Haq withdrawn.
The three-member Supreme Court bench led by CJP Isa will hear review petitions in the Faizabad sit-in case on November 1.
Railway employees are protesting against the delays of salaries by limiting the trains on the tracks after rounds of negotiations failed because the state institute has not been able to pay the staff.
The situation got worse on Friday when several intercity trains from Lahore to Karachi – including the Karakoram Express, Pak Business Express, and Karachi Express – could not depart on their scheduled routes as the employees staged protests on the tracks.
Amidst all this is the protest of passengers for being stranded for hours at the platform and being punished for the crime of relying on the national railway.
Some of the protesting employees are claiming to have not been paid for the months of August and September while the others have experienced significant delays. They halted the washing line before proceeding to block the track. They also stopped by the Business Express train from Karachi to Lahore and forced the passengers to disembark. They were reportedly chanting slogans against the management and expressed their anger over the difficulties they are experiencing due to this crisis. Some even complained about the electricity and gas supply being cut off due to this crisis.
Owing to Pakistan’s plummeting economy and the growing financial crisis of different institutions the employees are frustrated. The outgoing Chief Executive Officer Shahid Aziz highlighted the adversity of the circumstances by stating that a bailout package of Rs 35 billion is awaited to save the struggling institution.
Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khurshid Shah has publicly admitted that his party’s decision to join the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) coalition government was a mistake.
In an interview on Dawn News, Shah sought forgiveness for the move, emphasizing the need for a specific election date.
“We were there 16 months [in the government]. We made a mistake, forgive us. We committed a mistake,” Shah stated, acknowledging the party’s misstep.
The PPP leader stated that the past should be left behind and emphasized the need for a specific election date.
When asked again if the PPP had erred by participating in the previous coalition
government, Shah reiterated, “I say forgive us, we made a mistake. There, are you content? Now, provide the [election] date.”
He mentioned that the PPP’s support wasn’t directed at any specific government but rather aimed at upholding democracy and the parliament.
“We upheld and safeguarded the slogan of ‘vote ko izzat do’ (respect the vote), not the PML-N. Despite that, we say, forgive us, as we were part of the government for 16 months, so please forgive us.
“It was a mistake, so now announce the elections. What else are we requesting?”
In response to a query regarding the PPP’s initial congratulatory message to caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and subsequent accusations of favoritism towards the PML-N, Shah clarified, “The PML-N is part of that [caretaker government], we are not. We could also have joined and secured four ministries, but we realized that by doing so, we might hinder the prospect of timely elections.”
He further emphasized that the PPP’s primary goal was to ensure elections proceed in accordance with the law and the Constitution.
Hundreds of people were arrested Friday when police broke up a large demonstration of mostly Jewish New Yorkers who had taken over the main hall of Grand Central station in protest of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, police and organizers said.
The New York Police Department said at least 200 people had been arrested, while protest organizers put the number at more than 300.
Photos from the scene showed long lines of young people standing in handcuffs and wearing black sweatshirts with the words “Not In Our Name” and “Cease Fire Now” printed in white.
A very long line of Jews in cuffs going into a very long line of NYPD commandeered buses after taking over Grand Central Station for Gaza #CeasefireNOW @jvplive @IfNotNowOrg @JFREJNYC pic.twitter.com/XyUg8j6EXX
— Rafael Shimunov (@rafaelshimunov) October 28, 2023
The massive sit-in was called by the group Jewish Voice for Peace-New York City, which said thousands of its members had attended the protest, blocking the main concourse of the city’s central rail station.
Pictures showed the terminal packed with protesters who held up banners reading “Palestinians should be free” and “Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living.”
Organizers called the peaceful sit-in “the largest civil disobedience New York City has seen in 20 years.”
Jews have taken over New York’s Grand Central Station to demand #CeasefireNOW and rights for #Palestinians. Thanks @JvpAction @jvplive @jvpliveNY!! pic.twitter.com/vce42tiOvn
— Nora Lester Murad (@NoraInPalestine) October 27, 2023
Rabbis launched the event by lighting Shabbat candles and reciting the Jewish prayer for the dead, known as the kaddish.
“While Shabbat is typically a day of rest, we cannot afford to rest while genocide is unfolding in our names,” said Rabbi May Ye, in a statement released by organizers.
“The lives of Palestinians and Israelis are intertwined, and safety can only come from justice, equality, and freedom for all,” the rabbi said.
Israel launched its bombardment of Gaza after Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on 7 October, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 220 others, according to Israeli officials.
The Hamas-run health ministry said Friday that Israeli strikes on Gaza had now killed 7,326 people, more than 3,000 of them children.
In a staggering revelation, a 700-page long report released by the Spanish national ombudsman Angel Gabilondo, it has been estimated that over 200,000 minors have been abused by the Roman Catholic clergy since 1940 in the country.
The poll conducted by the independent commission of over 8,000 people found that 0.6 percent of Spain’s adult population of around 39 million people said that they suffered sexual abuse by members of the clergy when they were still minors.
“Unfortunately, for many years there has been a certain desire to deny abuses or a desire to conceal or protect the abusers,” said Gabilondo while addressing the press.
Over the last two decades, the allegations against the Spanish Catholic Church have mounted to a great level often involving children. The report is also critical of the clergy as the response by them was “insufficient” thus, it recommends the state to pay reparations to victims.
Spain’s parliament in March 2022 overwhelmingly approved the creation of an independent commission led by the ombudsman to “shed light” on allegations of sexual abuse of “defenceless boys and girls” in the Catholic church.
The church, initially reluctant, said in June that it has discovered 927 cases of child abuse through a complaints procedure launched in 2020, and in response to that it has set up a “child protection” office.
El Pais, a leading Spanish Newspaper, states in their investigation of 2018 dark facts dating back to 1927 about thousands of victims and alleged abusers. The recent report is dubbed as the “tip of the iceberg” by them.
The church’s abuse crisis is rampant all across Europe-first surfaced in 2002-and these investigations stir governments to take serious steps to stop the malice. Spain has been leading the effort as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the release of the report was a “milestone” in the country’s democratic history. Child Protection Activist, Juan Cuatrecasas, commented, “This must be the start of something, not an end in itself.”
“Ana Dammi Falastini” , a song that won Muhammad Assaf the title of Arab world in 2015, has over the years became the national song of the land-a musical and patriotic piece they rejoice in, in the face of occupying forces. It is one of the key performances of his concerts.
The lyrics can literally be translated as “My Blood is Palestinian”. It proclaims the pride of Palestinian and Arab heritage in its opening words:
Keeping my oath, following my religion
You will find me on my land
I belong to my people, I sacrifice my soul for them
My blood is Palestinian, Palestinian, Palestinian
My blood is Palestinian
The whole chorus of the song is an ode to the years of resistance and resilience of Palestinians in a celebratory, hip tone. Assaf himself was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp of Gaza and this song has been his magnum opus. This refrain got popular during Israel’s attack on Sheikh Jarrah in 2021 and since then has gained the status of an anthem among Palestinians. Nowadays, the song is popular on social media, especially TikTok, where people are using it as a background score in protesting against Israeli aggression.
The story of “Ana Dammi Falastini,” the song anti-occupation supporters are playing to support Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/SQmiQaEJ6t
— AJ+ (@ajplus) October 26, 2023
Earlier in the year, the song was removed from Spotify and Apple Music in an attempt seen as Israel’s way of sabotaging the worldwide popularity of the song even though the platform claimed that it was taken off by the distributor but there is no proof to that. The singer was unaware of the reason as well. Fans around the world slammed the Israeli government for getting triggered by a harmless song.
The song, however, has now transcended boundaries in the most unconventional way. There is a plagiarised copy of the song doing rounds on social media made by Israel reeking of Zionism with Falastini replaced by “Yahoodi”.
did they just steal ana dammi falastini….. https://t.co/0qtQrxO5kV
— t™ (@dreamglowmp3) October 27, 2023
On one hand it is a testament to the popularity of the song but on the other a proof of sheer hatred that showcases the mindsets of a class of hegemons.
THEY ISRAELED ANA DAMMI FALASTINI??????? pic.twitter.com/swt7Zkdd4t
— ليلى (@f4lasteen) October 27, 2023
One user remarks, “Did Israel colonised the song as well?”
did Israelis really colonise the song “ana dammi falastini” as well
how desperate and pathetic do you have to be
— Olivia (@slayivia) October 27, 2023
Assaf however has not given up and there are countless other songs of him paying homage to his homeland. Another of his popular song is “Falasteen Enty El Rouh” which means “Palestine, you are the soul.”
The existence of these artists keep the resistance alive.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is getting ready for the next big elections.
The commission is thinking of setting January 28 as the day for the General Elections in 2024, as per Waqar Satti of Geo News.
ECP is set to apprise the Supreme Court (SC) after it sought the commission’s response in a case pertaining to timely elections.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, earlier this week, during the apex court’s hearing on the issue of timely elections, observed that it was “not possible” to meet the 90-day deadline for holding elections and lamented the lack of preparations of the petitioners.
The CJP’s remarks came as he is leading a three-member bench comprising himself, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan to hear petitions filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and others, seeking elections within the 90-day constitutional limit.
During the hearing, the SCBA lawyer apprised the court that the “90-day period will complete on November 3″.
To this, CJP Isa inquired whether it would even be possible to hold the polls within 90 days, to which the lawyer conceded that even if the top court gives the order even then it will not be possible to hold the elections within 90 days.
The National Assembly, as well as the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies, were dissolved by the Shehbaz Sharif-led government on August 9.
This was done so the ECP could have enough time to organize the elections within the 90-day limit.
However, the ECP had to wait a bit longer to get everything sorted because they needed to consider the new population census approved by the Council of Common Interest (CCI). This meant they had to do some fresh planning and organization.
The ECP later announced that the new elections would happen in the last week of January 2024. But before they made this announcement, some people had filed petitions in the Supreme Court, asking them to make sure the elections happen within the 90-day limit.
These petitions were filed a while back but weren’t looked at during the tenure of former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.