Pakistani government says ‘all women and children’ Baloch protesters released following clash

Pakistan police stand guard as Baloch marchers reach Islamabad to protest against the "extra judicial killings" in Balochistan province on December 20, 2023. (Photo courtesy: X/@sairabaluch_)
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Updated 21 December 2023
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Pakistani government says ‘all women and children’ Baloch protesters released following clash

  • Protesters led by women started march from Turbat against ‘extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances’
  • Caretaker PM formed a three-member committee of ministers to hold talks with Baloch protesters in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s caretaker government said on Thursday that all women and children marchers arrested in Islamabad have been released, a day after a march against alleged “enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings” in Balochistan turned violent when police clashed with protesters in the capital.
Islamabad police said it arrested 215 protesters on Wednesday night for allegedly “pelting stones” at law enforcers in the capital. The over 1,600 km long march is being led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) under Dr. Mahrang Baloch, 30, who became an activist when she was still a teenager after what she says were enforced disappearances and custodial deaths of her father and brother.
The march started from Turbat district in the southwestern Balochistan province on December 6, where protests have been ongoing since last month over the alleged extrajudicial killing of a 24-year-old ethnic Baloch man. The killing has renewed debate over extrajudicial detentions and deaths in Balochistan where such incidents are not uncommon, though state agencies deny complicity. The province has been the scene of a low-level separatist insurgency for decades.
Following the clash, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar constituted a three-member committee comprising ministers Fawad Hassan Fawad, Jamal Shah and Murtaza Solangi to hold talks with protesters’ families.
“It is decided that all women and children, without any exceptions, are released,” Fawad, federal minister for privatization, told reporters during a news conference after holding talks with protesters. He was flanked by the other two members of the committee.
Fawad said the government had “credible evidence” that if the protesters staged a sit-in protest on a main road, certain nefarious elements would have misused that protest to their advantage.
“Some masked men pelted stones on police that led to a complicated situation,” he said, adding that they were not part of the protesters that had arrived from Balochistan.
The minister said 90 percent of the protesters who were arrested have been released. However, he said some of them were in police custody as they were still being identified and investigated.
Fawad said the negotiating committee had noted the protesters’ grievances and would bring them to the prime minister’s attention.
Rights activists Sammi Deen Baloch and Abdul Salam moved the Islamabad High Court earlier in the day, seeking the immediate release of the protesters. Their petition mentioned the names of 86 persons arrested by police.
Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition, summoning Islamabad’s top cop Akbar Nasir Khan to the hearing.
Khan told the court that police have released at least 70 Baloch protesters, among them women and children. He said police arrested around 215 protesters, alleging they had pelted stones at law enforcers.
“The protesters blocked the road for six hours, they were not allowed to move to D-Chowk [area] due to security reasons,” Khan said.
He also informed the court that the majority of the protesters who were arrested were sent to jail on judicial remand, while some have been handed over to police on physical remand.
Khan, however, did not give the exact number of protesters that were sent to jail and handed over to police.
The court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow, Friday, after seeking details of all those released, sent to jail on judicial remand, and handed over to police on physical remand.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Amnesty International expressed concerns over the “excessive use of force” by law enforcers against the marchers.
“HRCP strongly condemns the violent police crackdown on Baloch protesters in Islamabad, with women, children and the elderly subjected to unwarranted force in the form of water cannons and use of batons,” it said in a statement.
“This treatment of Baloch citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly is inexcusable,” the HRCP said. “All those detained must be released unconditionally.”
Amnesty International said dozens were detained while several others were injured, including women, minors and elderly persons, in clashes.
The rights organization urged the government to “immediately release all protesters, and drop any charges brought against them for solely exercising their right to freedom of expression and right to protest.”
Amnesty International also called on the government to conduct an impartial investigation into extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, particularly in Balochistan, in line with international standards.
Last month, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Balochistan issued a statement, seen by Arab News, saying Balach Baloch, the man killed in Turbat, had confessed in custody to being a militant and carrying out a number of attacks. He was arrested on Nov. 20, as per the statement, in possession of five kilograms of explosive materials.
Balach was later killed in a raid on a militant hideout in the city of Turbat, the CTD said. The killing unleashed sit-ins and strikes across the province. Balach’s family has refuted CTD claims, saying he was not involved in any unlawful activities but was picked up by the CTD on Oct. 29 and later killed in a “fake encounter.”
Political leaders, human rights activists and families of victims have for decades spoken against killings in Balochistan by security agencies in staged encounters, a practice where officials claim the victim was killed in a gunfight though they were summarily executed. Authorities deny involvement in such incidents.


Pakistan PM performs groundbreaking of first private sector university in Gilgit-Baltistan

Updated 4 sec ago
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Pakistan PM performs groundbreaking of first private sector university in Gilgit-Baltistan

  • Ramday University is being built by a trust with construction set to complete by donations from overseas Pakistanis
  • Home to some of the world’s tallest mountains, semi-autonomous GB region is among Pakistan’s least developed areas

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week laid the foundation stone of first private sector university in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), promising a bright future for the youth of the remote mountainous region.

Home to some of the tallest mountains in the world, the semi-autonomous GB region is counted among the least developed areas administered by Pakistan.

Ramday University is located in Thagos area of GB’s Ghanche district at an altitude of 11,000 feet. The university is being built on a 200-kanal area of land under a trust, with construction set to be completed through the donations of overseas Pakistanis, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

GB-based news portal Pamir Times said the university will offer specialized programs in environmental studies, climate change, hydrology and mineral studies subjects.

“The establishment of an institution of higher learning in a remote area like Ghanche in Gilgit-Baltistan is highly encouraging,” Sharif was quoted as saying on by the APP during the groundbreaking ceremony in Islamabad on Thursday.

The prime minister congratulated former Supreme Cour judge Khalil ur Rehman Ramday on establishing the university.

“He expressed his confidence that this university, located at an altitude of 11,000 feet in Thagos, will reach the peak of modern knowledge and research standards,” the APP said.

Sharif stressed that GB’s development and the welfare of its people were among the government’s top priorities.

The development takes place a day after Sharif visited the mountainous northern region, where he inaugurated a model village for flood-affected families during a day-long visit to Ghizer.

There, Sharif pledged to provide residents with ownership documents to help them acquire new houses that were destroyed by the 2022 floods.


Father accused of murder of British-Pakistani girl blames stepmother

Updated 15 min 2 sec ago
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Father accused of murder of British-Pakistani girl blames stepmother

  • Sara Sharif was found dead in her bed in southwest of London in Aug. 2023 with injuries including broken bones, burns
  • Her father, Urfan Sharif, had fled to Pakistan a day before the body was found, along with his wife and the girl’s uncle

LONDON: The father of a 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl on Thursday denied her murder and instead blamed the girl’s stepmother, calling her “evil” and “psycho.”

Sara Sharif was found dead in her bed in Woking, southwest of London, on August 10, 2023 with injuries including broken bones, burns and bite marks.

Her father, Urfan Sharif, 42, had fled to Pakistan a day before the body was found, along with his wife Beinash Batool, 30, and the girl’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29.

Sharif then called police in the UK shortly after arriving in Islamabad and said he had “beat her up too much.” During the trial, Sharif said he made up this and another confession to “protect my family.”

All three adults were arrested upon their return to the UK a month later. They deny charges of murder and allowing the death of a child.

Details of the extent of Sara’s injuries have been detailed at London’s Old Bailey court, including claims from Batool that Sharif would beat his daughter badly.

Giving evidence for a third day, Sharif admitted slapping Sara “multiple times” but denied beating, burning, or biting her, insisting that he was “never at home” when she was injured.

Sharif broke down when his lawyer, Naeem Mian, questioned him about beating Sara, who was home schooled, with a cricket bat.

The taxi driver denied burning his daughter with an iron and instead said he was “made to” slap Sara by Batool, who constantly accused the girl of behaving badly.

Pointing to Batool sitting in the dock, Sharif shouted: “I should not have believed her... I didn’t realize I’m living with evil and a psycho.”

He also suggested that Batool was the one who bit her “like an animal.”

The jury was previously told that Sharif and Malik had provided their dental impressions but Batool had refused.

“I didn’t do it. Faisal didn’t do it. Who else was at home?” Sharif said.

He denied ever being aware of Sara being in pain. “She never told me that,” he said and indicated that he did not see injuries because Sara wore full-sleeve tops and long bottoms as well as a hijab head covering.

In the month leading up to Sara’s death, Mian said Sharif was out of the house at work from early in the morning to late at night while holing frequent telephone conversations with Batool, who would largely be at home.

Sharif wept as he recalled a time he came home and saw that Sara’s hands had been tied behind her back with brown packaging tape, accusing Batool of the act.

Asked why he did not call the police or ask Batool to leave, Sharif said that his wife was “manipulative” and that he believed her apology.

“I have been an idiot,” he added.

Forensic evidence shown to court included bundles of packaging tape and a white plastic carrier bag fashioned into a hood that could have been used on Sara’s head.

The bag had packaging tape stuck to it as well as long, brown hairs that matched Sara’s DNA, the court was told.

Both the bag and the non-sticky side of the tape had fingerprints that matched Sharif’s, who denied fashioning a hood out of the plastic bag or using it on Sara.

He said the fingerprints could be a result of him handling the items while sorting the garbage.

Sharif had previously accused Batool of being abusive toward him and preventing him from asking Sara about how she obtained her injuries.

In 2022, Batool texted her sister that Sharif had suggested using make-up to cover up bruises after beating Sara, to which the sister replied: “LOL it was going to happen you can tell.”

In the days before her death, Sharif said Sara, who did chores around the house, had asked him to “not go to work.”


Pakistan win toss, bowl in 2nd ODI against Australia

Updated 22 min 21 sec ago
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Pakistan win toss, bowl in 2nd ODI against Australia

  • The hosts lead 1-0 after a tense two-wicket win in Melbourne on Monday
  • Pakistan named unchanged side with fast bowler Naseem Shah declared fit

ADELAIDE: Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to bowl in the second of a three-game one-day series against Australia in Adelaide on Friday.

The hosts lead 1-0 after a tense two-wicket win in Melbourne on Monday.

Pakistan named an unchanged side with fast bowler Naseem Shah declared fit after leaving the field during the first match, apparently with cramp.

Australia made one change with veteran Josh Hazlewood returning in place of Sean Abbott to join his long-time pace partners Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short again open the batting in the absence of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head and will be keen to make their mark after falling cheaply in the opening match.

Teams

Australia: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Agha Salman, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain


Pakistani firms bank on clinching ‘significant deals’ after debuting at Gulfood Manufacturing 2024

Updated 07 November 2024
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Pakistani firms bank on clinching ‘significant deals’ after debuting at Gulfood Manufacturing 2024

  • Around 29 Pakistani firms participated in Gulfood Exhibition 2024 from Nov. 5-7 in Dubai
  • Pakistani exhibitors say visitors from Middle East showed keen interest in their products

ISLAMABAD: After participating for the first time at the renowned Gulfood Manufacturing 2024 event in Dubai this week, Pakistani exhibitors on Thursday hoped the experience would help them clinch “significant deals” to penetrate markets in the Middle East.
Since 2014, Gulfood Manufacturing has been advancing the global food processing sector through innovation. This year, more than 1,200 suppliers from over 60 countries participated in the event held in Dubai from Nov. 5-7.
In a first, 21 Pakistani exhibitors took part in the tenth edition of the food and beverages trade fair under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan’s (TDAP) umbrella.
Eight other Pakistani companies participated independently to showcase food ingredients, processing, packaging, printing, labeling, and supply chain solutions for the food and beverage industry.
Abdul Wahab, director of the Faisalabad-based food packaging machine manufacturer Nadeem Engineering Company, said businesses from across the Middle East showed keen interest in his organization’s machinery and other products.
“Our competitive prices and high quality helped initiate many business deals, which we hope to finalize in the coming weeks,” Wahab told Arab News.

Pakistani exhibitors interact with the visitors at Gulfood Manufacturing Expo in Dubai, UAE on November 05, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan mission UAE)

Wahab thanked the Pakistani mission in the UAE and TDAP for their support, saying it enabled them to create more business opportunities.
“We are optimistic about securing a few significant deals that will help us enter the vast Gulf market,” he added.
A dedicated Pakistan Pavilion at the trade fair helped Pakistani firms showcase their products to visitors from across the globe. 

Pakistani exhibitors interact with the visitors at Gulfood Manufacturing Expo in Dubai, UAE on November 05, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan mission UAE)

Sheikh Abdul Qayyum, the chief executive officer of the Karachi-based company Lunwa Biz Packaging, praised the Pakistan Pavilion Initiative by saying that it helped generate a “good response” from visitors.
“Some good deals and memorandums of understanding have been signed, and we are working to bring them to final maturity,” Qayyum told Arab News. He said his company hoped to achieve positive results and generate substantial revenue from these agreements.
“We received support from the TDAP, which made the booth valued at Rs2.5 million available to us for Rs0.7 million, allowing us to make efforts to utilize this opportunity,” Qayyum said. 

Pakistani exhibitors interact with the visitors at Gulfood Manufacturing Expo in Dubai, UAE on November 05, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan mission UAE)

Faraz Tayyab, the project manager of Dubai-based company Menras who designed and managed the Pakistan Pavilion, said over 100,000 people visited Pakistani stalls while exhibitors reported an excellent response for their products.
“One machine manufacturer even sold his display unit and signed a deal to send additional machines to the Dubai-based buyer from Pakistan,” Tayyab told Arab News.
Although it was their first time participating, Tayyab said Pakistani companies have made an impressive impact and will benefit greatly from this experience.
“It has opened the gateway for a bigger participation next year,” he said.


Four soldiers, five militants killed in northwest Pakistan operation — military

Updated 07 November 2024
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Four soldiers, five militants killed in northwest Pakistan operation — military

  • Security forces, militants traded fire in Karama area in South Waziristan, says military’s media wing
  • Pakistani has suffered surge in militant attacks since November 2022 in areas bordering Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani soldiers and five militants were killed during a gunbattle in the country’s restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the army’s media wing said on Thursday, as Islamabad grapples with surging militancy.
The exchange of fire between security forces and militants took place in South Waziristan’s Karama area on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the army’s media wing, said in a statement.
The army said four Pakistani soldiers were killed during the exchange of fire. These included Naib Subedar Taib Shah, 38, Lance Naik Gulab Zaman, 30, Lance Naik Muzammil Mehmood, 30 and Lance Naik Habibullah, 28.
“Resultantly, five Khwarij were sent to hell due to effective engagement by own troops,” the ISPR said, referring to the term the military uses for the Pakistani Taliban militants.
The army said it was conducting a sanitization operation in the area to eliminate any other militants.
“Security Forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it concluded.
Pakistan has been witnessing a spike in militant violence in its northwestern and southwestern regions that border Afghanistan, particularly after the Pakistan Taliban or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called off its fragile truce with the government in Islamabad in November 2022.  
The militant group, which is said to have sanctuaries in neighboring Afghanistan, is separate from but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. 
Ties between Islamabad and Kabul have been strained as the former accuses the latter of sheltering TTP militants. Afghanistan denies the allegations and has urged Pakistan to resolve its security challenges internally.