ISLAMABAD: A senior State Department official said on Wednesday the United States had consistently urged Pakistan to respect its citizens’ rights and legal obligations, following a resolution by US lawmakers demanding an impartial investigation into election manipulation allegations after the February 8 national polls.
The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted for a resolution to support democracy in Pakistan a day earlier, condemning “attempts to suppress the people of Pakistan’s participation in their democracy” and asking the government to respect due process of law, freedom of press and free speech in Pakistan.
While Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed the resolution as having “no value” and described it as political posturing in a US election year, experts pointed out that 85 percent of House members had voted on it, with 98 percent endorsing it.
Asked about the resolution, which also prodded President Joe Biden’s administration to collaborate with Pakistan in upholding democracy, human rights and rule of law, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington was already committed to these principles.
“I’m not going to comment on that resolution specifically, but speaking generally, our most senior officials – including Secretary [Antony] Blinken and Ambassador [Donald] Blome – have consistently both privately and publicly urged Pakistan to respect the rights of its people and live with its constitutional and international obligations,” he said.
“We continuously urge the Government of Pakistan to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and religion, as well as the rights of marginalized populations such as women and religious minorities,” he added.
Pakistan’s foreign office released a statement after the US House had voted, saying the resolution “stems from an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan.”
However, the country’s defense minister was more curt in his response, saying the US had “no right to interfere in our internal affairs or give any sort of verdict on the matter.”
Washington’s support will be crucial for Islamabad in coming weeks as it looks to secure a fresh bailout from the International Monetary Fund to stave off an economic crisis.
The resolution will not have much impact on Washington’s policy toward Pakistan, Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute, said in a post on social media platform X.
But, he added, it raised questions about whether Pakistan legislation could follow, noting bipartisan support for the resolution.
- With inputs from Reuters
US says efforts already underway to strengthen Pakistan’s democracy after Congress seeks election probe
https://arab.news/5t8kb
US says efforts already underway to strengthen Pakistan’s democracy after Congress seeks election probe
- US House resolution prodded Biden administration to collaborate with Pakistan in upholding democracy, human rights
- Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Asif says the United States has ‘no right to interfere in our internal affairs’
Thousands of students march in Karachi to protest Gaza war, demand independent Palestinian state
- The rally, which was organized by the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, marched toward the US Consulate with Palestinian flags
- The participants said they did not believe in two-state solution and would only accept independent and sovereign Palestine
KARACHI: A rally organized by the student wing of a religious party in Pakistan’s southern Karachi port city on Saturday drew thousands of participants who marched toward the US Consulate to protest against the ongoing war in Gaza and advocate for an independent Palestinian state.
The rally attendees chanted slogans against the US and Israel while carrying Palestinian flags and large banners that read “Stop the Genocide in Gaza.”
Organized by the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, with affiliation with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party, the march brought together students from various universities, professional education institutions and colleges.
The JI and its student wing have previously organized similar demonstrations to protest the war in Israel that has claimed nearly 38,000 lives, mostly women and children, since it began on October 7, 2023.
“The Pakistani student community and youth will not accept any two-state solution and will only accept an independent and sovereign Palestinian state,” said Hasan Bilal Hashmi, the top leader of the student wing in Karachi, during the rally, as per a press release.
Other participants praised the Palestinian resistance and expressed their continued support.
They highlighted that the JI student wing had supported Palestinians since the conflict began and called for the Muslim world to unite to help them.
Later, the marchers delivered a memorandum to the US Consulate, urging the American administration to cease its support for Israel.
This memorandum was signed by a number of students, including many who participated in the demonstration.
Iranian envoy makes veiled criticism of US resolution on Pakistan’s elections, calls it ‘modern Ignorance’
- US House of Representatives called for impartial probe into the rigging allegations that followed Pakistan’s February 8 elections
- Iranian envoy to Pakistan criticizes the US and describes the development as ‘extortion under the guise of supporting democracy’
ISLAMABAD: Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, made a veiled reference on Saturday to a resolution passed by the United States House of Representatives, criticizing it for demanding an impartial probe into the rigging allegations that followed Pakistan’s February 8 elections and calling it “modern ignorance.”
The resolution, overwhelmingly adopted by US lawmakers this week, expressed concern over the state of democracy in Pakistan and called for freedom of media and speech. It also condemned attempts to “suppress” the participation of people in their democracy, asking the government to uphold their human, civil, and political rights.
Pakistan sharply reacted to the development, describing it as “unsolicited” advice and demanding that bilateral relations with the US be based on the principles of “mutual respect and non-interference.”
“Among wonders of modern ignorance: a country prevents ceasefire by veto, supports #GenocideinGaza by providing lethal weapons to Zionist regime, but Congress passes a resolution questioning election in an independent UN member,” Ambassador Moghadam wrote in a social media post, calling it “extortion under the guise of supporting democracy.”
Iran is among the nations that have criticized the United States for its support of Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly highlighting the US use of its veto power in the United Nations Security Council.
Additionally, Iran has issued a stern warning to Israel, indicating that any attack on Lebanon could lead to a “devastating” war.
Another camel found mutilated and dead, days after similar act of animal cruelty in Sindh
- The owner of the camel refuses to accuse anyone after the animal was found dead with all of its legs amputated
- Previously, a landlord was accused of torturing another camel and chopping off its leg after it strayed into his fields
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s southern Sindh province witnessed yet another act of animal cruelty, as widely reported by the local media on Saturday, after a camel was found dead in the region with its legs amputated.
The incident took place only a few days after a local landlord in Sanghar district was accused of torturing a camel and chopping off its leg with his employees’ help since it had strayed into his fields for grazing.
The story, which triggered significant uproar on social media, led to the camel being transported to Karachi for treatment and a prosthetic leg. Six individuals involved were also arrested by the police.
The most recent incident took place in a modest settlement near Umerkot in Sindh.
“I don’t want to accuse anyone,” Abdul Rashid, the owner of the dead camel, was reported as saying by Geo News. “I have around 40 to 45 female camels. While all of them returned after grazing last evening, she was left behind alone.”
“God knows who made her run, beat her and cut her legs,” he added. “We don’t know anything yet ... We’ll see what to do next.”
Pakistan’s existing animal cruelty laws, rooted in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890, prohibit various forms of animal cruelty, including beating, overdriving, and mutilation.
The legislation also prescribes penalties for breaches of these anti-cruelty provisions, which can include fines and imprisonment, though these are not always effectively enforced.
Pakistan Football Federation announces women’s futsal team participation in next year’s Asian Cup
- Futsal, a dynamic indoor variant of soccer played with a smaller ball, emphasizes skill and control over physical power
- The competition will mark the first time the national women’s futsal squad will compete in any premier competition
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced on Saturday the participation of the country’s national women’s futsal squad in the Asian Cup tournament next year, marking it their first competition under the auspices of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Futsal, a dynamic indoor variant of soccer played with a smaller, harder ball, emphasizes skill and control over physical power, and is popular in countries like Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. Recognized by major soccer organizations, including FIFA, the game’s focus on quick passing and space management has contributed to its growing global appeal.
“I am pleased to announce that the PFF has confirmed the participation of the Women’s Futsal team in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025,” PFF Chairman Haroon Malik said in a statement. “This participation highlights PFF’s commitment to developing women’s futsal in Pakistan and providing our players with opportunities to compete at the international level.”
To prepare for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025, the PFF has organized five Futsal National Cup (FNC) competitions in major cities across Pakistan.
The qualification round for the tournament will begin at the start at the outset of the next year, with the round of 12 set to take place in May 2025.
Pakistani authorities have been actively seeking to diversify athletic interests and skills beyond the nation’s predominant passion for cricket, promoting sports like futsal to broaden the athletic landscape.
Despite the cultural and social hurdles, these efforts include encouraging more participation among women, who rarely have opportunities to engage in sports and international competitions.
India win toss and bat in T20 World Cup final against South Africa
- India crushed defending champions England by 68 runs in Guyana on Thursday
- A day before that, South Africa thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad
Bridgetown, BARBADOS: India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat in the final of the T20 World Cup against South Africa at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.
The toss was held in bright sunshine and with a gusty wind blowing across the 28,000 capacity venue which is expected to be sold out for the game.
Rohit and his South African counterpart Aiden Markram both named unchanged line-ups from the teams which won their respective semifinals.
The possibility of stormy weather over the weekend, with some rain forecast for Saturday, had raised concerns among organizers but as early arrivals began taking their seats there was no sign of rain.
The final concludes a near month-long tournament, held in the USA and the Caribbean and features two teams who have yet to lose in the competition.
The event which has been a mixed bag in terms of quality, entertainment and attendances has certainly succeeded in setting up a final between the two best teams in the shortest format.
India crushed defending champions England by 68 runs in Guyana on Thursday, the day after South Africa thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad to end a long and agonizing wait for a title game.
Since their first appearance at a World Cup in 1992, following the end of apartheid, South Africa had lost seven semifinals in the two limited overs formats.
This will be South Africa’s first senior men’s final since the inaugural Champions Trophy in Bangladesh in 1998 when the Proteas beat the West Indies.
India experienced the double disappointment last year of defeat in the World Test Championship final and the 50-over World Cup — losing both to Australia.
The country which more than any other popularised the shortest form with the hugely successful Indian Premier League now stands on the brink of their second T20 World Cup title and first since the inaugural edition in 2007.
