Tag: World Leaders

  • Our people of the year 2023: Motaz and Mahrang

    Our people of the year 2023: Motaz and Mahrang

    2023 saw the world witnessing war and injustices on a global scale, and the rise of indigenous leadership. It is said that leaders are not born, they are made. The war on Gaza and some indigenous movements have caused a paradigm shift in the collective consciousness of people by changing the way pop culture approaches celebrity culture. This time the choice was not hard. Heroes of 2023 are neither politicians nor actors, they are people who have not deliberately made their way to the limelight. Circumstances made them stand up for the cause they stood for.

    Motaz Azaiza

    Motaz, the photojournalist famously known as “The Eye of Gaza”, has emerged as the world’s window into Gaza. His Instagram and Twitter accounts provided a very real and horrifying peek into the oppression carried out by the Israeli forces.

    The world saw his transformation over a short time, as the war lingered on for more than 80 days. From grey hair at 24 to his struggle to have access to the internet, the world him document the horrors unfolding in Gaza’s genocide. His followers increased from thousands to millions and he became that one person who people prayed for when seen offline for a long time.

    This young man graduated from the University of Gaza in English Language Literature, pursued his passion for photography, and struggled as a freelancer in the limited options available in Gaza but his efforts got recognized post-October 7. His valour and commitment got appreciated in the form of him being declared the “Man of the Year” by GQ Middle East and the pictures taken by him making it to Times Top 100 Photos of 2023.

    “No one is safe, nowhere is safe, and fear is everywhere. Either I stay at home or I go outside. Why should I stay at home? I have to stand up and show the world the truth through the camera lens,” Motaz told The New Arab in an interview and this encapsulates the motive behind his work.

    Mahrang Baloch

    Mahrang, a student leader from Balochistan, is again a leader crafted by circumstances. At 30, she is leading a movement against the extra-judicial killings and missing persons in the country.

    Mahrang was just a young girl when her father was forcibly abducted and later found dead with signs of torture back in 2009. According to her, this incident changed her life completely. Unfazed, she became vocal about the inhumane acts. Her brother faced the same persecution in 2017 but that made her even more resolute to speak against this injustice. She actively led different movements in her student years. Mahrang was a student leader in 2020 when the removal of the quota system at Bolan Medical College emerged and she led the campaign to oppose the suggestion successfully as she believed that this quota system preserve opportunities for students from remote areas.

    The human rights activist describes herself as a political worker and an advocate of #endenforceddisappearences.

    She is currently leading the sit-in by Balcoh protestors in Islamabad, becoming the voice of tens of thousands of Baloch suffering the loss of their beloved in the province through the platform of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. The death of Balach Baloch instigated a new wave of awareness about the issue and this time Mahrang is determined to not let the phenomenon of the “Baloch Genocide” go unnoticed.

    Both causes are close to our hearts, inspiring us with their bravery and determination.

  • Modi extends condolences to families of the flood victims

    Modi extends condolences to families of the flood victims

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends his condolences to the families of the flood victims in Pakistan.

    “Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy,” tweeted Modi.

    The devastating effects of floods across the country continue to rage on as monsoon rains have killed over 1,000 people and disrupted the lives of more than 5.7 million people.

    The federal and provincial governments are currently providing assistance to the displaced families and now the international community has also poured in their support.

    The Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed “deep sorrow over the casualties, massive destruction of property and loss of life resulting from floods in Pakistan”.

    The United Nations (UN) is set to launch a Flash Appeal in support of Pakistan. The international platform will reportedly launch a $160 million appeal.

    Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said that the appeal will be launched on Tuesday, August 30.

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the country is currently providing support to Pakistan. “Like many Canadians across the country, I’m thinking of everyone affected by the devastating flooding in Pakistan. Canada is providing support through UNCERF and Red Cross Canada – to provide food, clean water, and other essential services as quickly as possible,” he tweeted.

    During a telephonic conversation between President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, the UAE President offered condolences and sympathy to the victims of the floods.

    PM Sharif thanked Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan for their support. Both country leaders had telephonic conversations with the premier.

    President Raisi and President Erdogan conveyed solidarity with Pakistan and assured support in relief assistance in all areas affected by heavy floods and rains.

    Moreover, PM Sharif thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his support for the flood affectees.

    In a tweet, he said, “Grateful for President Emmanuel Macron’s message of support for the people of faced with devastating floods. We appreciate France’s solidarity and offer of help for the affected people in this hour of need.”

  • ‘Mr Bean called PM Khan’, viral memes make fun of PM office phone calls

    ‘Mr Bean called PM Khan’, viral memes make fun of PM office phone calls

    Prime Minister Imran Khan received telephone calls from world leaders this past week and PTI Official tweeted about the phone calls he received. World leaders called him to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

    Pakistani Twitter started making memes of the official PTI tweets, some making jibes that it was to lessen the blow that US President Biden had not called PM Khan yet.

    We have collected some memes. Here are a few:

    https://twitter.com/zahum1982/status/1428166763833962498?s=19

    https://twitter.com/FahadRafiq345/status/1428114306609057798?s=19

    People are sharing several memes and the netizens also shared that Prime Minister did not receive any call from US President Joe Biden.

    One of them shared that Imran Khan is requesting Joe Biden to call him but in response, he says “absolutely not”.

    Earlier on the night of August 13, PM Khan, in a wide-ranging talk with foreign journalists at his residence, said he was not really “waiting” for a phone call from US President Joe Biden.

    “I keep hearing that President Biden hasn’t called me. It’s his business. It’s not like I am waiting for any phone call,” he said in response to a question from a Reuters journalist.

  • ‘Enough is enough’: Mo Salah urges world leaders to end violence in Palestine

    ‘Enough is enough’: Mo Salah urges world leaders to end violence in Palestine

    Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah has called on world leaders to “do everything in their power” to end the killing of innocent people in Palestine, where at least 36 people, including 10 children, have been killed by Israeli airstrikes. At least 250 others were injured.

    Salah’s appeal came as the Israeli military continued it’s bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip on Tuesday, targeting several areas after rockets were fired from the enclave.

    In a tweet on Tuesday, Salah specifically called on Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson “to make sure the violence and killing of innocent people stops immediately”.

    “I’m calling on all the world leaders including on the Prime Minister of the country that has been my home for the past 4 years to do everything in their power to make sure the violence and killing of innocent people stops immediately,” Salah said on Twitter.

    “Enough is enough,” he added.

    Meanwhile, West Indian cricketer and coach of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi Daren Sammy also condemned Israeli attacks in Palestine saying: “I just can’t understand why it is so difficult to treat others as you would want to be treated, or even better yet treat each others as human beings.”

    Similarly, Pakistan Cricket Team’s opening batsman Fakhar Zaman said: “Israeli forces continue to attack innocent worshipers at Al-Aqsa with illegal confiscation of lands evicting Palestinians from their homes with all illegal measures to undermine prospects for global peace.”

    “Sometimes I feel how unfair the World has become with selective justice,” he added.

    Ahmad Shahzad is also “devastated by the violence happening in Palestine.” He also demanded immediate action against this violence.

    Meanwhile, many celebrities from Pakistan and other parts of the world including Gigi Hadid have raised their voice against the brutality of Israeli forces in Palestine. From Mahira Khan to Asim Azhar and from Shahid Afridi to Babar Azam, all are raising their voice against the abominations of Israeli powers on Palestinians.