ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has used the platform of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to reiterate its condemnation of India’s consecration of a grand temple to the Hindu god Lord Ram on a site believed to be his birthplace but where a 16th century mosque was demolished in 1992 in the Indian city of Ayodhya, state-run APP news agency reported on Thursday.
For decades, the temple site was bitterly contested by Hindus and minority Muslims, leading to nationwide riots in 1992 that killed 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, after a Hindu mob destroyed a 16th-century mosque that had stood there.
India’s Hindus say the site is the birthplace of Lord Ram, and was holy to them long before Muslim Mughals razed a temple at the spot to build the Babri Masjid in 1528. In 2019, the Supreme Court handed over the land to Hindus and ordered allotment of a separate plot to Muslims where the construction of a new mosque is yet to begin.
On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a grand consecration of the Ram Temple.
“Reiterating its condemnation of the recent consecration of ‘Ram Temple’ on the demolished Babri Mosque’s site, Pakistan has urged the top official for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) to play his part for the protection of Islamic sites in India,” APP reported on Thursday, quoting Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Munir Akram as telling an OIC Ambassadorial meeting on Wednesday.
“The Pakistani envoy shared with OIC colleagues a letter he addressed to the UNAOC High Representative, Miguel Angel Moratinos, in which he said that the event in Ayodhya marked a ‘disturbing rise in Hindu majoritarianism in India’,” APP added.
“This trend poses a significant threat to the social, economic, and political well-being of Indian Muslims, as well as to the harmony and peace in the region,” the letter, quoted by APP, said.
“Regrettably, this is not an isolated incident, as other mosques, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura, face similar threats of desecration and destruction.”
Munir called for the UNAOC’s “urgent intervention” for the protection of religious sites in India.
“Under your esteemed leadership, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations must play a crucial role in safeguarding Islamic heritage sites and securing the rights of religious and cultural minorities in India,” Munir said.
“The Secretary-General has entrusted you to implement the action plan for the protection of religious sites. We urge you to expedite efforts to implement the action plan and ensure the safeguarding of religious sites in India.”
According to APP, other OIC ambassadors acknowledged the importance of the issue and brought up attacks on mosques in some European countries. The Palestinian Permanent Representative to the UN, Riyadh Mansour, drew attention to the Israeli desecration of the Al-Aqsa mosque and the demolition of other mosques and churches in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The meeting concluded with a decision to put the issue on the agenda of the next OIC ambassadorial meeting.
Reacting to Monday’s consecration, the Pakistani foreign office had said a temple built on the site of a demolished mosque would remain “a blot on the face of India’s democracy for the times to come.”
“The developments of the last 31 years, leading to today’s consecration ceremony, are indicative of growing majoritarianism in India,” the Pakistani foreign office statement said, condemning Monday’s consecration. “These constitute an important facet of the ongoing efforts for social, economic and political marginalization of the Indian Muslims.”
Nearly 8,000 people were invited to Monday’s ceremony, while more than 10,000 police personnel guarded the city of 3 million. Security was also stepped up nationwide, especially in cities and towns that have suffered past Hindu-Muslim tension and strife.
The temple opened to the public on Tuesday this week, and its management expects 100,000 visitors each day for the next few months.
Pakistan raises issue of Ram temple consecration at OIC ambassadors’ meeting
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Pakistan raises issue of Ram temple consecration at OIC ambassadors’ meeting
- Pakistan writes letter to UN Alliance of Civilizations High Representative Miguel Angel Moratinos
- India’s Hindus say site was birthplace of Lord Ram long before Muslims build the Babri Masjid in 1528
Al-Azhar University to establish campus in Pakistan, says Egyptian grand mufti
- Founded in 970 CE, Al-Azhar is known for its scholarship in theology, jurisprudence and Arabic studies
- The grand mufti also asked Pakistan to send scholars to Egypt to benefit from the institution’s expertise
ISLAMABAD: Egyptian Grand Mufti Dr. Nazir Mohamed Ayad announced Friday Al-Azhar University, a renowned center of Islamic learning, plans to establish a campus in Pakistan, a move welcomed by Education Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who pledged full government support during their meeting in Islamabad.
Founded in Cairo in 970 CE, Al-Azhar is celebrated for its rigorous scholarship in Islamic theology, jurisprudence, Arabic studies and modern sciences. With a legacy spanning over a millennium, the university is a key authority on Islamic thought and attracts students globally.
The discussion on branching out into Pakistan took place during a meeting between the two officials, which was also attended by the Egyptian ambassador to Pakistan.
“Dr. Nazir Mohamed Ayad, Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt, thanked the federal minister for his warm welcome and said that Al-Azhar University will establish its campus in Pakistan,” read an official statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Federal Education.
“He said it is important that people learn the Arabic language to understand the true teachings of Islam,” it continued.
The Pakistani minister highlighted the deep cultural and historical ties his country shared with Egypt, both of which, he noted, were part of the world’s oldest civilizations. Siddiqui described Al-Azhar University as a beacon of Islamic scholarship, expressing his aspiration to visit the institution in Cairo.
During the meeting, he also highlighted Pakistan’s upcoming International Girls Conference, scheduled for January 11-12, which aims to promote girls’ education in Islamic countries.
“It is a misconception that Islam does not allow women’s education,” Siddiqui said, emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring equal educational opportunities for women.
The Grand Mufti noted that over 40 percent of Al-Azhar University’s students were female. He also encouraged Pakistan to send scholars to Egypt to benefit from the institution’s expertise.
Al-Azhar’s operations are primarily based in Egypt, where it has campuses in several cities. Internationally, the university extends its influence by offering scholarships to students who disseminate its teachings upon returning to their home countries.
The university has also collaborated with educational institutions worldwide and established cultural centers to promote Islamic studies and the Arabic language.
In 2022, Pakistan’s late religious affairs minister, Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, announced plans to open a campus in Lahore.
The initiative, which included Al-Azhar providing faculty, curriculum and textbooks, was to be administratively managed by Pakistan.
Pakistan receives over 22,000 applications for 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students
- The scholarships were announced in July last year under the Allama Iqbal Scholarship program, amid ongoing tensions between the two countries
- The program, which covers tuition fees, accommodation and monthly stipend, offers scholarships in medical, engineering, agriculture and other fields
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received more than 22,000 applications for 4,500 scholarships it announced for Afghan students last year, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan said on Friday.
The scholarships were announced in July last year under the Allama Iqbal Scholarship program, amid ongoing tensions between the two countries that prompted Islamabad to launch a deportation drive targeting unregistered Afghans in late 2023.
The program, which covers tuition fees, accommodation and a monthly stipend for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies at Pakistani universities, was introduced in 2009 to strengthen bilateral ties between the two neighboring states.
In a statement issued from his office, Pakistan’s special representative Sadiq Khan said this is the third phase of the program that will offer fully funded scholarships in medical, engineering, agriculture and other fields over the next three years.
“This month, over 22,000 applicants will take an online test, followed by interviews for final selection. The entire process will conclude within 45 days,” he said.
“Notably, 33 percent of the scholarship seats are reserved for female students.”
Pakistan last year announced the scholarships on the same day its federal cabinet approved the extension of registration cards for 1.5 million Afghan refugees for another year.
Ties between the two countries have been strained because of a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan’s western regions that border Afghanistan.
The attacks particularly surged after the breakdown of a fragile truce between the Pakistani government and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Nov. 2022.
Pakistan has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
The two countries also conducted cross-border strikes in each other’s territory last month in the latest escalation of hostilities along the border.
Pakistan hopes for stronger ties with Lebanon as Joseph Aoun elected president
- Aoun’s election came weeks after a ceasefire deal halted a 14-month conflict between Israel, Lebanese group Hezbollah
- PM Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan values its ties with Lebanon and looks forward to strengthen bilateral cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday congratulated Joseph Aoun for being elected as the new president of Lebanon, expressing Pakistan’s interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation between both countries.
Aoun’s election came weeks after a tenuous ceasefire agreement halted a 14-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and at a time when Lebanon’s leaders are seeking international assistance for reconstruction.
Aoun, no relation to former President Michel, was widely seen as the preferred candidate of the United States, whose assistance Lebanon will need as it seeks to rebuild.
In his message on X, Sharif wished Aoun success in his endeavors to lead Lebanon toward peace, stability and prosperity.
“Pakistan values its ties with Lebanon and looks forward to strengthen our bilateral cooperation,” the Pakistan prime minister said.
Pakistan and Lebanon share close relations. In December, Lebanon helped Islamabad safely evacuate around 300 Pakistani nationals stranded in Syria and transport them back home via chartered flights from Beirut.
Pakistan has also sent several relief consignments for the people of Lebanon during Israel’s bombardment of the Middle Eastern country.
Pakistan records 5.6% increase in remittances month on month
- Overseas workers remittances stood at $3.1 billion in the month of December
- The inflows rose by 29.3 percent in 2024 as compared to the previous year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded a 5.6 percent increase in remittances in December on a month-on-month basis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday, congratulating the nation on the record inflows.
Remittances bring billions of dollars annually from overseas Pakistanis and are vital to Pakistan’s economy. These inflows bolster foreign exchange reserves, stabilize the balance of payments, and support the Pakistani currency.
Overseas workers remittances stood at $3.1 billion in the month of December, according to a statement issued from Sharif’s office. The inflows rose by 29.3 percent in 2024 as compared to the previous year.
Sharif said the record increase in remittances was a testament to the determination of overseas Pakistanis to play their role in the development of the South Asian country.
“After economic stability, Pakistan has embarked on the path of economic development,” he said.
Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default in 2023 by clinching a last-gasp $3 billion loan program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The South Asian country has since made some economic gains, most notably slowing the annual consumer inflation to 4.1 percent in December. This was down from 38 percent in May 2023.
Pakistan’s government has vowed to undertake economic reforms mandated by the IMF which include tightening fiscal policies, privatizing loss-making state-owned enterprises and enhancing tax revenues.
“The government of Pakistan is committed to the country’s development and public welfare,” Sharif reassured in his statement.
Pakistan to launch pilot motorbike patrol for security of motorways
- Motorways in Pakistan have a dedicated police force, but various crimes, including rapes, have been reported in the past
- Communications minister says 30-35 motorbikes will boost motorway security and improve response time in the first phase
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has ordered the launch of a pilot motorbike patrol to enhance security of motorways in the country, Pakistani state media reported on Thursday.
Pakistan’s motorway network has improved road connectivity for the people and the government has deployed a dedicated motorway police force, installed CCTV cameras and established emergency response systems, but security concerns have persisted for travelers.
In 2020, the gangrape of a woman traveling from Lahore to Gujranwala via the M-11 motorway in front of her children sparked widespread outrage in the country, leading to calls for enhanced security measures. In 2023, a motorway police officer was also arrested on allegations of raping a woman on the highway, according to a report in Dawn newspaper.
“Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has directed the motorways authority to launch a pilot motorbike service aimed at enhancing security and surveillance on motorways,” the Pakistan Television (PTV) broadcaster reported.
“The motorway police have been instructed to utilize existing resources to kick-start the service with plans for expansion in the future.”
Khan directed the motorway police to include 30-35 motorbikes for patrolling in the first phase to boost security measures and improve response times, according to the report.
The communications minister urged the National Highway Authority, Motorway Police, Frontier Works Organization, and local police to collaborate in securing the motorways.
“Motorway police must take maximum responsibility for ensuring the safety of citizens while a robust mechanism should be developed to make motorway travel as secure as possible,” he added.
