The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab chapter has expressed its willingness to form an alliance with any political party, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), in the upcoming general elections in Punjab, Geo reportedon Wednesday.
“PPP opponents are making alliances, and the party is also ready to devise its strategy for the upcoming elections,” said PPP Punjab acting president Rana Farooq Saeed at a press conference after a meeting.
Former state minister Tasneem Qureshi, Secretary Information PPP Punjab Shahzad Saeed Cheema, Mian Azhar Hassan Dar, Ali Sanwal, Azhar Awan, Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, and others attended the huddle.
Shahzad Saeed Cheema criticised PML-N for depending on deals, stating that PML-N could not sustain a competitive stance without a deal in its favour. He further said that the party led by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ensures a “level playing field” only for itself in the elections.
The PPP constantly emphasised the importance of a “level playing field” for all political parties taking part in the upcoming general elections, which are scheduled for January 2024.
The Israeli forces bombed Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza which has left over 195 killed and 120 civilians missing, bringing the death toll closer to 9000.
Hollywood actress and philanthropist Angelina Jolie shared a picture of the aftermath of Israel’s attack as well as a statement critcising Israel for attacking innocent civilians and children. Angelina urged for a ceasefire, pointing out that world leaders were complicit in these crimes by refusing to prevent these atrocities.
“This is the deliberate bombing of a trapped population who have nowhere to flee. Gaza has been an open-air prison for nearly two decades and is fast becoming a mass grave. 40% of those killed are innocent children. Whole families are being murdered. While the world watches and with the active support of many governments, millions of Palestinian civilians – children, women, families – are being collectively punished and dehumanized, all while being deprived food, medicine and humanitarian aid against international law. By refusing to demand a humanitarian ceasefire and blocking the UN Security Council from imposing one on both parties, world leaders are complicit in these crimes.”
In the second slide of her post, Angelina shared significant history behind Jabalia which holds one of Gaza’s largest refugee camps.
“Jabalia refugee camp is the largest of the Gaza Strip’s eight refugee camps. After the 1948 War, refugees settled in the camp, most having fled from villages in southern Palestine. The camp covers an area of only 1.4 square kilometers, 116,011 Palestine Refugees are registered with the UNRWA in Jabalia camp alone, 75 years since the Palestine conflict.”
Just a few days earlier, Angelina issued a statement urging her followers to help the people in Gaza who were being violently displaced by the ongoing attrocities and shared links to places that were taking donations to help the Palestinian civilians.
Pakistani fans were heart broken while watching the rest of the world celebrate in the streets when Shah Rukh Khan’s thriller ‘Jawan’ was released in theatres everywhere. But since it’s the King’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY SRK!!), he has sent fans a treat- a chance to finally watch the film. Jawan is now available to watch worldwide on Netflix.
Netflix uploaded a hilarious short clip announcing the release of the film on the streaming platform, an extended cut which wasn’t included in the theatre version.
Jawan released on September 7 in cinemas, quickly getting declared the highest grossing film in India. It recieved critical acclaim for performances by Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan as well as for screen writing, action sequences and music score.
It was highly anticipated that King Charles will issue a strong apology for the harrowing atrocities of colonialism in the region during his visit to Kenya. Local rights groups were pressing for reparations but instead came a strongly-worded regret. “The wrongdoings of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and the deepest regret,” Charles said during a state banquet.
The British King acknowledged the painful struggle of Kenyans as he said, “There were abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans as they waged… a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty and for that, there can be no excuse.”
The crimes committed by the British colonial forces date back to the time when Kenyans were forced out of their tea lands as the British took over. Their lands are still producing more than 50 percent of tea for the British. Not just that, in the Mau Mau uprising during 1952-1960 a total of 90,000 people were brutally killed and 1,60,000 were detained.
Exactly a decade ago, UK Government announced payments of almost 20 million pounds to more than 5,000 people in what is known as a “a process of reconciliation”. This visit was paramount as Kenya is celebrating its 60th independence anniversary. “It matters greatly to me that I should deepen my own understanding of these wrongs, and that I meet some of those whose lives and communities were so grievously affected,” the King remarked.
While some are greatly disappointed at the lack of a formal apology speculated to be delivered ahead of the visit, President William Ruto has appreciated the courage of the British monarch for shedding light on “uncomfortable truths that reside in the darker regions of our shared experience”.
British royalty speaks publicly on the advice of the cabinet and Rishi Sunak has already rejected the call for an apology.
The government of Pakistan launched a crackdown against illegal foreigners on October 3 while a deadline of November 1 was announced for the immigrants to voluntarily leave the country or face deportation. The program has been given the name of IFRP-The Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.
The interim federal Minister for Interior, Sarfraz Bugti, categorically announced that that there will be, “No compromise” after the deadline.
Stats reveal that 90,000 Afghans have left the country and a number of families are driving back home via Torkham and Chaman borders to avoid the hassle of the deadline.
Breakdown of the Afghan Population in Pakistan
The government has recognized that a total of three million Afghans are residing all over the country out of which 1.7 million are unregistered and undocumented. The rest are the ones who have Proof of Registration with UNHCR or hold Afghan Citizen Card. As per UNHCR, the population of Afghan refugees has grown to 3.7 million while only 1.3 million are officially registered. There was a particular rise in the influx of the population after the exodus of American and NATO forces from Afghanistan. Breaking down the figures, it’s observed that as of June 2023, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa hosts 52.6 percent (735,800) of Pakistan’s undocumented Afghan population, Balochistan accounts for 24.1 percent (321,677), Punjab has 14.3 percent (191,053), Sindh houses 5.5 percent (73,789), Islamabad accommodates 3.1 percent (41,520), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir hosts 0.3 percent (4,352).
Government’s Repatriation plan
After November 1, raids will be conducted to bring all to “holding centres” and carry out the deportation plan. The government’s deportation plan as laid out by the caretaker Interior Minister is divided into three phases. The plan was laid out in detail in an interview with journalist Shehzad Iqbal on Geo TV. He clearly mentioned that this plan is for “all the Afghans” present in Pakistan and goes on to explain the varying types of them.
In phase one, refugees without any evidence of authorisation or travel documents will be brought to the deportation centres and will be sent to the borders to go back to Afghanistan.
The second phase includes the immigrants who have infiltrated the system of citizenship via illegal means. In the words of the interim minister, they have “breached” the system of NADRA.
The last phase includes the repatriation of the ones who hold documents or are registered with UNHCR. The Government will track them down eventually as “geo-mapping” is completed, claimed the Minister. Meanwhile, they can fully avail the opportunity of open borders to leave peacefully. The holding centers will serve as a temporary home for those to be deported by the Government in a matter of days. Centers are reportedly established in all the provinces and state machinery has been activated to get the task done in time.
Government’s Crackdown
Even though the Government is pledging to take action after November 1, there are multiple reports of raids being made in different cities before the deadline. For instance, one raid in Islamabad Marriot made it to the headlines as the Government arrested UK, asylum seekers. They have been waiting for two years in Pakistan withheld by the UK government in hopes of immigrating to UK, since the Taliban’s takeover. British High Commission has sped up the process after the raid.
Stance of the Pakistan’s government
The motives of the Pakistani government are clear. “In the 24 blasts that took place in the year 2023, 14 were carried out by Afgan nationals,” claimed the Interior Minister. He also claims Afghan nationals are involved in the rising crime ratio of the country. The government strongly denies allegations that the move is reactionary.
Status of Afghans in Pakistan’s society and economy
Afghan nationals residing in the country have a significant contribution to the economy. Most of them started out with small jobs involving physical labour but are now well-established. One such account is narrated by the spokesman of Anjuman-e-Tajiran Balochistan Haji Allah Dad Tareen who sees Pakistan as his home country as younger generations have been born and raised here and they made a living from scratch. “We did not have much economic stability in Quetta before the Afghan Civil War when the people came here, they had lands, agriculture, livestock back at home which were all sold and they invested their money in Pakistan to make a living. This is how the past forty years passed and their young generation belongs to Pakistan, completely. They were born here, they’ve grown up and got educated and completely assimilated in the society just like other locals have,” he said. It is one of many examples. According to Humayun Khan, an economic expert, the PTI Government under Imran Khan offered citizenship to these Afghan Nationals because they realized that if these Afghans went back, this would cause a “revenue drain” on Pakistan’s economy.
Reception of the Repatriation Program
The decision has invited mixed reactions from civil society, activists, journalists, politicians, and netizens from different walks of life.
Afghan government’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid called the decision “unacceptable”.
He also denounced the involvement of Afghans in the terrorist attacks in Pakistan. This indicates an impending rift between the two states.
In an interview for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Hina Jillani, with journalist Rabia Mehmood, called the decision “Irrational, unreasonable, unauthorized and unlawful.”
Hina Jilani, chair @HRCP87 emphasised in @NewWaveGlobal_ discussion that Pak interim govt has no mandate to set policy on expulsion of Afghan refugees/asylumseekers a decision which is irrational, unreasonable, unauthorised & unlawful by Pk state. pic.twitter.com/HdlNTpD0Q8
Women’s Democratic Front exposed that the government is deporting the ones holding registration cards and is not allowing them to take their cattle and cash along with them.
The news that even the registered card holding refugees are being deported and are not being allowed to take their belongings especially cattle & cash is unjust and cruel. This further dispossesses an already marginalised people.
— Women Democratic Front ناری جمھوری محاذ (@wdf_pk) October 30, 2023
Moniza Kakar, a human rights lawyer vocal about the pleas of Afghan refugees, along with Aurat March Karachi, organized a peaceful protest to call out the government on the forceful deportation of the Afghan Refugees.
Participated in a protest organized by #AuratMarch against Pakistan’s unjust mass deportation of Afghan refugees. It was heartening to see a diverse group of civil society members from Karachi come together to raise their voices against this unjust policy. #RefugeeRightspic.twitter.com/4FsY8AAJhi
Shafiq Ahmed, an advocate on Twitter, highlighted the issue of forceful expulsion of a huge population to a land they have fled from.
A refugee shall not be deported to a State where his life or liberty would be threatend for reasons of race , colour, religion, political belief or membership of a particular social group.#RefugeesRights#AfghanRefugees#StopDeportingAfghanRefugees
In Geo TV’s show Report Card, journalist Mazhar Abbas questioned the capacity of NADRA to have complete information about all the illegal aliens countering the claims of Caretaker Interior Minister Bugti to have done complete geo-mapping.
Renowned Journalist Azaz Syed is critical of the decision and called it “emotional” in its spirit because many such attempts have been done before by UNHCR but it has turned out that they take the money and come back making use of the porous border.
پاکستان میں افغان مہاجرین کی وطن وآپسی پر بے جا جذباتی پن کا مظاہرہ کیا جارہا ہے۔ کاش ہم ہوش کے ناخن لیں۔ کینیڈا میں سلمی ا زاہد نامی پاکستانی نے 15 سال میں وہاں محنت کرکے اپنا مقام بنایا اور پارلیمینٹ کی رکن بنیں ہم اپنے ہم وطنوں کے لیے بیرون ممالک میں حقوق مانگتے ہیں مگر… pic.twitter.com/HHRRYDirr9
Irshad Bhatti, congratulated the Government and military leadership on this historic decision.
The government, however, has kept the decision intact and maintained that they are ready for the fallout if any because such hard decisions come with all the positives and negatives.
Hyderabad chapter of Aurat March refused to protest against the repatriation plan while the march was criticised by civil rights activist including Anis Haroon, retired Justice Majida Razvi and many others stating, “How long Sindh would bear the burden of illegal immigrants when it owns 37 percent of the rural population [that] lives below the poverty line?”
Bugti wants the move to be perceived as Pakistan’s change of image from a soft state to a “hardened” one. He asserted that Pakistani government is determined to send these foreigners to their homelands in a step-wise manner.
Imran Khan has released another message for Pakistanis from jail via his family on Tuesday.
Talking about the responsibility of the judiciary, Imran Khan said, “It is the fiduciary duty of the judiciary and the lawyers to protect the Constitution, upon which rests the progress of our nation. Therefore, the legal fraternity must start and lead a movement for upholding the rights of the people of Pakistan, foremost their fundamental right to vote, to choose their leaders, and to define their future themselves.”
He also emphasised giving fundamental rights to Pakistanis and said that “whom they choose as their leader is secondary, but they must be given their basic and fundamental right enshrined in the constitution to choose their representatives.”
While encouraging people to struggle for the betterment of law in the country, Khan said, “Pakistan stands at the crossroads; it is a critical juncture where we are watching the steady destruction and dismantling of our justice system. We must, therefore, act immediately if we are to prevent its complete collapse.”
Imran Khan also mentioned in his message that “if we do not fight for justice and stand behind our judges, we will not be able to establish constitutional supremacy in this country or stand up against this rule of might, where only the fittest and the richest survive.”
Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti has declared that the operation against illegal foreigners will start from November 2 as the deadline given to them is ending today. The deportation will take place in different phases from here on.
According to the Afghan Commission, as many as 104,000 Afghan refugees living illegally in Pakistan have returned to Afghanistan so far. The undocumented refugees included 28,000 men and 19,000 women and 56,000 thousand children.
The caretaker federal cabinet approved that provinces will bear the expenses of the logistics. Caretaker Chief Minister Maqbool Baqar gave his nod to allocating Rs.4.5 billion to carry out the Repatriation plan from Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas and Larkana divisions.
49 holding centres have been established all over the country.These illegal foreigners are being brought to holding centres after registration. A huge number has already reached the Chaman border to leave whereas the ones in the centers will be sent gradually according to the plan.
However, there are reports of a crackdown in different cities of the country like Karachi, Hyderabad, Sargodha, Mianwali and Khushab. Caretaker Information Minister Barrister Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel told the media that, “We’ve identified and mapped 52,000 illegal residents in various districts of our province for action.” “These [undocumented] foreigners will be temporarily kept in designated processing zones from where they will be deported to their respective countries,” he added on. Mr Kakakhel said that under the plans, the exercise would be executed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday and Saturday in Punjab, and on Wednesday and Thursday in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He also announced that from Nov 1, the federal government would begin a “single-document” policy welcoming those entering Pakistan on passport and visas only.
Several prominent leaders from India’s opposition parties, including members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), have recently been alerted about potential security breaches concerning their Apple devices.
Indian National Congress’s Shashi Tharoor and Pawan Khera, Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi, Trinamool Congress’s Mahua Moitra, and Aam Aadmi Party’s Raghav Chadha are among those who received warning emails from Apple, highlighting the threat of state-sponsored attacks targeting their iPhones.
The news broke when The Wire, an online publication, revealed that even Siddharth Varadarajan, the founding editor of The Wire, and Samir Saran from the Observer Research Foundation, were also on the list of individuals who received the warning emails.
Apple Warns at Least 3 Indian MPs, Political Leader, Senior Journalist About ‘State-Sponsored’ Attack on Phone https://t.co/KC5p2rr7iFDid Apple alert you on your iPhone recently about a state-sponsored attempt to target your device?
The situation prompted immediate action from various quarters, including the media, with several journalists and opposition leaders reportedly receiving similar notifications from Apple about potential state-sponsored attacks.
Was notified by Apple late last night that my iPhone linked to my Apple ID is being targeted … I have implemented the on-device remedial measures suggested by Apple and am reaching out to experts as well …. pic.twitter.com/x9KbvcV1ez
Shashi Tharoor, Pawan Khera, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Siddharth Varadarajan confirmed the receipt of the warning emails during the late hours of Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
Tharoor, who noticed the email on Tuesday morning, emphasized the importance of making these threats public, citing the necessity of transparency in safeguarding security. Expressing his concern, Tharoor highlighted the misuse of public funds and the urgent need to address more significant national security threats.
Received from an Apple ID, threat-notifications@apple.com, which I have verified. Authenticity confirmed. Glad to keep underemployed officials busy at the expenses of taxpayers like me! Nothing more important to do?@PMOIndia@INCIndia@kharge@RahulGandhipic.twitter.com/5zyuoFmaIa
The situation escalated further when The Wire alleged that the language used in the warning emails was similar to previous alerts from Apple, although this claim could not be independently verified by Newslaundry.
Tharoor took to Twitter, sharing that the emails were sent from “threat-notifications@apple.com”.
Mahua Moitra, a member of the Trinamool Congress, later added that individuals within Rahul Gandhi’s office had also been targeted.
In response to the unfolding events, Apar Gupta, the founder of the Internet Freedom Foundation, provided a detailed analysis emphasizing the importance of not dismissing these alerts as false alarms.
Seeking clarification from Apple, Newslaundry contacted the company’s official spokesperson, seeking information about the origin of the alleged attacks and the number of affected users. Apple responded, stating that while they do not specifically attribute the notifications to any state-sponsored attackers, the detection process is complex and evolving.
Notably, the alerts were not limited to India alone, as it was discovered that individuals from nearly 150 countries had also received similar threat notifications from Apple.
These developments have emerged approximately two years after reports of India’s alleged use of Israeli spyware for targeted surveillance, indicating a continued focus on digital security concerns within the country.
Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has lashed out at the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, while talking in program Zor Ka Jor on Samaa TV.
Shahid Afridi criticized PCB management committee for mishandling cricket affairs amid the Men in Green’s below-par performance in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.
Afridi believes that Ashraf should focus on his job rather than giving pointless statements.
“Zaka Ashraf is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, not of a club. I’m surprised why is he calling owners of media houses about people who are talking against him,” Afridi said.
“For God’s sake, you are the chairman, just deliver results and do your job. People are only talking about you because you are giving them this opportunity. Zaka Ashraf Sahab, stick to what you are supposed to do. The team is playing a World Cup and you are giving one statement after the other. Sometimes it is about Babar and sometimes it is about someone else,” he added.
Social Media users took to X (formerly Twitter) and supported Shahid Afridi’s statement.
Senior Editor, ESPNCricinfo, Osman Samiuddin tweeted, “Don’t hold board elex, throw own team under bus, leak whatsapp messages from captain, live for junkets & photo ops, be in charge of absolute clown admin, get away with all of it.”
Don’t hold board elex, throw own team under bus, leak whatsapp messages from captain, live for junkets & photo ops, be in charge of absolute clown admin, get away with all of it.
Aspiring Cricket analyst Syed Ali Imran tweeted, “Media houses kay owners ko phone? Shahid Afridi hits back at Zaka Ashraf who most probably exerted pressure on him via Aleem Khan owner of SAMAA TV.”
Media houses kay owners ko phone?
Shahid Afridi hits back at Zaka Ashraf who most probably exerted pressure on him via Aleem Khan owner of SAMAA TV. pic.twitter.com/G0AkSblWuW
X user Maham Gillani tweeted, “A very clear message from Shahid Afridi to Zaka Ashraf. Lala is always behind Babar Azam. Off the field sixer from Boom Boom Afridi.”
Israel forces bombed the Jabaliya refugee camp in Northern Gaza on Tuesday afternoon, leaving at least 50 dead, bringing the death toll to 8,525, including 3000 children. According to a report by the New York Times, Israeli officials justified the bombing to US counterparts by citing the 1945 Atomic bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Israeli officials further explained that the mass civilian casualties were an “acceptable price” in its campaign against Hamas.
Bollywood lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar expressed outrage over Gaza’s comparison to Hiroshima, tweeting:
“So now Israel is justifying its indiscriminate round the clock bombing on helpless civilians of Gaza by giving example of Hiroshima and Nagasaki . !!! .. and the so-called civilised world is listening . They are the same people who teach us human rights .”
So now Israel is justifying its indiscriminate round the clock bombing on helpless civilians of Gaza by giving example of Hiroshima and Nagasaki . !!! .. and the so-called civilised world is listening . They are the same people who teach us human rights .
A few days ago Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu lent her voice in calling out the atrocities taking place over Gaza by sharing a screenshot of two Palestinian children crying over their dead mother. In the caption she begged her followers to understand that children should be sparred during wars.
