ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday welcomed additional provisional measures by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, reaffirming its support for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
The ICJ decision on Friday added to the pressure on an increasingly isolated Israel, coming just days after Norway, Ireland and Spain said they would recognize a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor of a separate international court sought arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The case against Israel was initiated by South Africa in December 2023, where it labeled Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip as “genocidal,” asserting that they intended to destroy the Palestinian people in ways specified under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
On Saturday, Pakistan’s foreign office said Islamabad supported the application filed by South Africa before the ICJ against Israel under the 1948 Genocide Convention, in follow up to which the ICJ announced additional provisional measures for Rafah.
“Pakistan demands immediate and unconditional implementation of the latest orders of the ICJ... We call on the UN Security Council to play its role in ending Israel’s ongoing brutal military campaign across Gaza; allowing unhindered flow of humanitarian assistance; taking effective measures to protect civilians in Gaza; and holding Israel accountable for its crimes,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinians for a viable, secure, contiguous and sovereign State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
Israel besieged the Gaza Strip and launched airstrikes following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, prompted by the deteriorating conditions of the Palestinian people living under the Israeli occupation.
To date, the Palestinian death toll has reached about 36,000, predominantly women and children, as Netanyahu’s administration continues its military campaign that has demolished hundreds of residential neighborhoods along with hospitals and educational institutions.
Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
In recent months, the South Asian country has repeatedly raised the issue of Israel’s war on Gaza, launched last October, at the United Nations through its permanent representative, Ambassador Munir Akram.
“As required by the latest ruling of ICJ, Israeli occupation authorities should keep the Rafah crossing open for unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance, and ensure unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip of any commission of inquiry, fact-finding mission or other investigative body mandated by the United Nations to investigate allegations of genocide,” the foreign office added.
Pakistan welcomes ICJ ruling on Gaza, reaffirms support to Palestinians
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Pakistan welcomes ICJ ruling on Gaza, reaffirms support to Palestinians
- The ICJ decision added to the pressure on an increasingly isolated Israel, coming just days after Norway, Ireland and Spain announced they will recognize Palestine as a state
- The case against Israel was initiated by South Africa in December 2023, where it labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza Strip as ‘genocidal’ and said they intended to destroy Palestinians
Pakistan launches cybercrime helpline seeking swift action on complaints
- The development comes as Pakistani authorities announce busting a child sexual abuse ring in Azad Kashmir’s Muzaffarabad
- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urges the use of advanced technology, software and hardware to fight crime in digital realm
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday launched a cybercrime helpline, 1799, that aims to ensure swift resolution of complaints, Pakistani state media reported.
The development came during Naqvi’s visit to the headquarters of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which was established earlier this year, the APP news agency reported.
The minister toured various departments, including the helpline center, forensic lab and network security section, and appreciated the staff for their efforts to combat cybercrime.
“The helpline is now fully operational, and citizens can lodge cybercrime complaints by calling 1799,” the interior minister was quoted as saying.
Pakistan transformed the Cybercrime Wing of its Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) into an autonomous organization and named it the NCCIA in April. It followed the introduction of a new law to regulate social media content, with journalist groups and rights activists saying it was aimed at curbing press freedom and dissent on social media.
Enacted in 2016 and further tightened with amendments this January, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was drafted with the stated aim to combat cybercrimes such as hacking, online harassment, and data breaches. Pakistani officials defended the PECA law, under which offenders can be handed prison sentences of up to three years and fines of Rs2 million ($7,200).
Naqvi directed NCCIA officials to ensure quick resolution of all complaints, saying the agency was established to meet the demands of the modern digital era, according to the report.
He emphasized the need for the use of advanced technology, software and hardware to fight cybercrime effectively and stressed the need to hire talented staff and equiping them with all necessary resources.
The development came as authorities announced busting a child sexual abuse ring, allegedly run by a German national, in Azad Kashmir’s capital of Muzaffarabad.
“A state-of-the-art facility was formed with modern cameras and over there, children from poor families were exploited by giving money first and then blackmailing,” State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said at a presser on Tuesday.
“Their videos were sold on the dark web.”
The NCCIA busted the ring in a five-hour operation on May 23 and arrested two suspects, according to the minister. Ten kids were also found at the facility, of which six were sent to the Child Protection Bureau.
“The German man used to facilitate and sell this [content],” Chaudhry said, without disclosing the identity of the suspect. “We are trying to reach him legally.”
Child sexual abuse has been a widespread issue in Pakistan, where perpetrators are often family members, teachers or trusted people. Poverty, lack of education and societal attitudes contribute to the problem. While laws exist, their implementation remains a challenge. Various NGOs are also working to raise awareness about the issue and support survivors.
Pakistan champions SCO Development Bank plan to drive regional economic integration
- The finance minister virtually addresses SCO meeting in Beijing due to ongoing annual budget preparations
- Muhammad Aurangzeb welcomes the operational launch of the SCO’s network of financial think tanks
KARACHI: Pakistan’s finance chief Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted his country’s support for the establishment of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Development Bank during his address to the meeting of his regional counterparts on Tuesday while describing the initiative key to economic integration.
Aurangzeb made the remarks as he virtually joined the SCO finance ministers’ meeting held in Beijing due to Pakistan’s ongoing annual budget preparations. The SCO, a key Eurasian political and economic bloc, has emerged as a major platform for regional coordination and economic cooperation.
The SCO Development Bank is a proposed multilateral financial institution to serve member states that has been under discussion for several years. It has gained renewed interest from some SCO countries like Pakistan, China and Russia as part of efforts to boost regional economic integration, infrastructure financing and regional connectivity.
“Regarding the SCO Development Bank, Pakistan strongly supports this establishment,” the Pakistani finance minister said during his address.
“We envision the bank as an institution for innovation, integrating digital finance, fintech solutions and green financing mechanisms into its core operations, and look forward to engaging on the technical details of establishment of the SCO Development Bank,” he added.
Aurangzeb also welcomed the operational launch of the SCO’s network of financial think tanks, saying it would provide a platform for strategic foresight and policy research to support financial cooperation across member states.
Highlighting Pakistan’s recent economic performance, he said the country had made “significant progress” on macroeconomic stability, citing a current account surplus, improved fiscal indicators, a stable currency, growing foreign exchange reserves and reduced inflation.
These gains, he said, were supported by ongoing structural reforms in taxation, energy, public finance and state-owned enterprises.
Aurangzeb reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO’s core principles and called for enhanced economic collaboration through joint ventures, technology transfer and capacity-building initiatives among member states.
Noting global economic challenges such as slowing growth, rising inequality and climate change, he stressed that SCO countries must work together to promote sustainable and inclusive development, particularly across the Global South.
“Infrastructure development and regional connectivity are vital for promoting economic growth and integration,” he said, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for transportation, energy and digital connectivity projects under the SCO framework.
The finance minister concluded by reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to advancing the SCO’s vision of regional stability, prosperity and collective progress.
Islamabad Police say killer of Pakistani TikTok star Sana Yousaf arrested
- Sana Yousaf, with over 830,000 followers on TikTok, was murdered at her Islamabad residence on Monday
- Islamabad Police chief says suspect murdered Yousaf for repeatedly turning down his “friendship” proposals
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police said on Tuesday it had arrested the main suspect in the murder of 17-year-old TikTok star Sana Yousaf, disclosing that he had killed her after she repeatedly rejected his proposals for “friendship.”
Yousaf, who had over 830,000 followers and 29 million likes on video sharing platform TikTok, was shot dead at her house in Islamabad’s G-13 area on Monday. Police launched a probe on Monday, saying that unidentified persons shot Yousaf in the chest twice and killed her on the spot. Her body was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad for post-mortem.
A CCTV footage, which was first shared on private news channels and then later on state-run Pakistan Television (PTV), showed a young man walking briskly away from Yousaf’s house in broad daylight. Sharing details of the suspect, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said the suspect is a matriculation student and the son of a retired government officer who was arrested from Faisalabad.
The police official said the suspect did not have any source of income, adding that he used to promote content on Instagram and other social media platforms.
“Before getting into the motive, I should make it clear that we have arrested [the suspect] and recovered the weapon of offense,” Rizvi told reporters at a news conference.
He said police also recovered Yousaf’s iPhone from the suspect, which he had taken with him to erase evidence of the crime.
“Basically, it was a case of repeated rejections,” Rizvi said, adding that the suspect had been trying to contact Yousaf through social media in the past, who had been rejecting his offers of “friendship.”
He said the suspect had tried to contact Yousaf for eight to nine hours at her Islamabad residence on May 29, the day of her birthday, but could not succeed. Rizvi said the suspect tried to meet Sana again on June 2 at her residence, waiting there for eight to 10 hours but failed again.
“And then he planned and entered her house because of his weapon and murdered her,” the Islamabad Police official said.
Rizvi described it as a “blind murder,” saying that it was a challenging case for police to solve as the suspect had taken her mobile phone and left no evidence of the crime. He credited Islamabad Police officials for solving the murder within 20 hours through the use of cellular technology and digital surveillance.
Pakistani news outlets frequently report cases of violence against women, particularly for turning down marriage proposals or for uploading videos on TikTok and other social media platforms.
Police in Pakistan’s southwestern province in January arrested a man for being involved in murdering his 14-year-old daughter, an American citizen, for posting “objectionable” videos on TikTok.
More than 54 million people use TikTok in conservative Pakistan, where authorities have repeatedly blocked the app over concerns regarding its content. It was banned four times in 2021.
Asia Cup in limbo after India-Pakistan conflict
- India are scheduled to host T20 Asia Cup tournament in September this year
- Strained ties worsened after intense fighting between India, Pakistan in May
NEW DELHI, India: This year’s Asia Cup hangs in the balance following the recent clashes between tournament hosts India and arch-rivals Pakistan.
Already-soured relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors further worsened after four days of intense fighting before a ceasefire was announced last month.
India are scheduled to host the Asia Cup, a flagship event of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), in September but uncertainty lingers over the T20 tournament.
“To be honest, we have had no discussions within the board about the Asia Cup,” a top official of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) told Reuters on Tuesday, refusing to confirm whether the tournament will go ahead as scheduled.
“We have been busy with the Indian Premier League and then we have India’s tour of England. These are our immediate concerns,” he added.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was not forthcoming about its team’s participation in the tournament in India either.
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it,” the PCB told Reuters in a statement.
ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the PCB, was not available to comment.
The ACC on Monday announced the postponement of the women’s Emerging Asia Cup, which was due to begin on Friday, citing weather conditions and the spread of the viral disease chikungunya in host nation Sri Lanka.
India will host the women’s 50-overs World this year but Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka under an arrangement made by the International Cricket Council.
India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy this year and played all their matches, including the March 9 final, in Dubai.
Bilateral cricket has been suspended since 2013 between the Asian neighbors, who play each other only in multi-team events.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir is against playing Pakistan even in neutral venues but will follow whatever the BCCI decided, he said last month.
ADB approves $800 million program to support Pakistan’s public finance reforms
- ADB says the package will support tax reforms and digitalization to help boost fiscal sustainability
- It includes a $500 million guarantee to help Pakistan unlock up to $1 billion from commercial banks
KARACHI: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday approved an $800 million financing package for Pakistan to help the country improve fiscal sustainability, strengthen public financial management and support economic reforms.
The funding, part of the Improved Resource Mobilization and Utilization Reform Program (Subprogram 2), includes a $300 million policy-based loan and ADB’s first-ever policy-based guarantee of up to $500 million, which is expected to help Pakistan raise as much as $1 billion from commercial banks.
“Pakistan has made significant progress in improving macroeconomic conditions,” ADB’s Country Director for Pakistan, Emma Fan, said in a statement. “This program backs the government’s commitment to further policy and institutional reforms that will strengthen public finances and promote sustainable growth.”
The program supports reforms to tax policy, administration and compliance, along with improvements in public expenditure management, cash handling and digitalization.
It also aims to facilitate investment and private sector development, with the broader goal of reducing Pakistan’s fiscal deficit and public debt while creating space for development and social spending.
Khurram Schehzad, adviser to Pakistan’s finance minister, also confirmed the development in a social media post, saying “diplomacy” led by the finance ministry and economic affairs division had helped secure majority support at ADB Board.
The ADB said the program is backed by a comprehensive support package involving technical assistance and coordination with development partners to help Pakistan build long-term fiscal resilience.
A founding member of ADB, Pakistan has received more than $52 billion in public and private sector financing from the bank since 1966, spanning infrastructure, energy, transport, food security and social services.
ADB plays a leading role in supporting inclusive and sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific.
